Rashiwe Chipurunyenye
It was never a secret that CHIPAWO always delivers and the Southern African Festival for Children and Young People, SAFE was served on a hot platter.
Celebrating its 3rd anniversary with the theme “TAKURA”, SAFE festival saw the attendance of more than 500 people from the 4th to the 6th of August 2022.
When they say “CHIPAWO chakadzidza”, it was surely reflected by the official opening, where CHIPAWO children presented an infusion of modern and traditional dances with the likes of Mbakumba, Muchongoyo,Dinhe, Amapiano, and Rhumba.
Not only did they wow the audience with these dances but they presented a play Takura from the book Takura and the Talking Brunch by the late Stephen Chifunyise. SAFE Festival 2022 saw the attendance of Botswana, South Africa, Malawi and Zambia.
These countries too brought their A-game, delivering powerful performances on the second and third day. Children of Botswana bringing the play “Melodi and Kgori”, while their counterparts from Botswana-Children Arts Trust did the play “The Missing Child”
South Africa-Oasis Leaners Academy brought to life “Life Style” while Zambia-CHIEZA brought down the house with “We are better than yesterday”. Zambezi Arts Zambia did “Black Bond” and Malawi YDC performed “The Journey at Lampeduza”
Zimbabwean theatre groups that were in attendance included House of Talents, Dzikwa Trust, and Elysium Magna. SAFE festival 2022 birthed the SAFE children’s fun day which was on third and last day of the festival. One can SAFELY say we truly had fun. There were jumping castles, face paints, toys, food stall, dance, music from Dj Wanco, Dj Jerry Springer, Baba Shupi, Dj Andreas and Kid Kinnah.
SAFE Festival’s success was all thanks to the CHIPAWO Board, Dollarbill Entertainment, Pro- Diary, ProBrand, Nhaka Yambuya Kunze Butchery, Nyaradzo, VaChirenda , Friends of CHIPAWO , Totem Pride and Theatre in the Park. CHIPAWO would like to express its sincere gratitude to everyone who donated for the success of the festival. SAFE Festival 2023 will be hosted by Malawi and we look forward to it.
We can safely say we achieved our goal in creating a creative space with different young minds honoring the works of the Late Stephen Chifunyise in producing poems, drama plays, musicals, dance from his collection of “TAKURA and the Talking Branches” SAFE Festival 2022 we surely have grown and thank you for making our dream come true, until we meet again –Uncle Stephen Chifunyise.
Indeed “TAKURA”
