16 DAYS 2013, THE AFTERMATH

"We are human beings before we are anything else, as artists we have a social responsibility to speak against social ills that are overwhelming us daily.  Many of us come from families, communities that are riddled with violence and what a better way to give voice to these issues than through art be it dance, music, film, spoken word, theatre," said the FLAME Gender Project Officer.

Indeed 16 Days has come and gone but the increasing number of abuse especially that of children is saddening.  Everyday the press is filled with stories of children and women being raped, molested and murdered which makes this everyone's issue.  The FLAME project each year engages with artists to add their voice against the violation of human rights in whatever form.  2013 was no different, FLAME staged 16 Events around 16 Days of activism at the Book Café in Harare with music shows, film screenings, workshops and a poetry event.

The highlight of this year's events was the visit by the awesome Jamaican dub-poetess, d'bi. young Anitafrika.  Not new to Harare, having been in the country in 2012 during the Poetry Africa Tour(UKZN), d'bi.young introduced her SORPLUSI workshop to Harare: an approach that looks at the personal, spiritual and political face of the artist.  d'bi quickly became a darling of many of the local artists with her easy going, loving and positive energy leading into collaborations and a lot of conversations especially about art.

For the first time, FLAME managed to engage two women poets from Bulawayo, Noshawekazi Damasane and Primrose Koketso Mpofu who took part in the Human Rights Poetry slam with Primrose coming out as the second luckiest poet on the day.

Here are some of the highlights from this year's events:

Cindy Munyavi performs at Sistaz Open Mic: World Aids Day Commemoration

Kessia Masona performs at the first ever show for Women Comedians
 

SORPLUSI Workshop with d'bi.young Anitafrika
 

Nomashawekazi Damasani(Lady Tshawe) performs at the Human Rights Poetry Slam

Primrose Koketso Mpofu performs at the Human Rights Poetry Slam

3 G3NERATIONS with Clare Nyakujara, Uzanele Manhenga, Dudu Manhenga: Human Rights Concert

d'bi.young Anitafrika performs at the Human Rights Concert

d'bi.young collaborates with Victor Kunonga: Human Rights Concert

We would like to take this opportunity to thank all the artists who took part in the 16 Days events as well as the Canadian Embassy for their invaluable support in bringing d'bi.young to Harare.  Many thanks also go to our long-time partner Women Film Makers of Zimbabwe (WFOZ) for the films screened during the 16 days: Africaid for the "How to dance" video screened to mark World Aids Day and the Center for Women's Global Leadership (CWGL) for the 16 Days Toolkit.

The struggle continues everyday moving to a place where art must become conscious in addressing issues of violations against human rights across gender in every sphere.

Batsirai E Chigama
Gender Project Officer
for PAMBERI TRUST

FLAME presents 16 Events for 16 Days of Activism, 2013

The worldwide campaign against gender-based violence

Book Café, Harare, 25 Nov-07 Dec 2013

 

The horrific slaughter of women students at a Canadian college in 1989 sparked global protest and a powerful worldwide campaign.  The slaughter came to be known as the ‘Montreal Massacre’.  The campaign is known as ‘16 Days of Activism against Gender Based Violence’, and advocates for awareness and action on the multi-faceted intersections of gender-based violence and militarism, while highlighting the connection between the struggle for economic and social rights and ending gender-based violence across the world.

 
This November The Book Café in Harare once again joins the world with a series of vivid and colourful events to raise awareness of the campaign in Zimbabwe, and to promote non-violence through the powerful voices of women and men in the arts.

Against the backdrop of the global theme “From Peace in the Home to Peace in World” Harare arts organisation Pamberi Trust will roll out 15 events at the Book Café, featuring some of Zimbabwe’s top and up-and-coming performing artists in music and poetry performances, workshops, discussions and film-screenings, from 25 November to 7 December 2013. 

 Performers to look forward to include Dudu Manhenga, Clare Nyakujara and Uza in ‘3Generations’;  Victor Kunonga & Peace; Diana Samkange, Edith weUtonga and Fatima Katiji, Ammara Brown and Kessia Masona.



3 GEN3RATIONS, Clare, Dudu, Uzanele

Kessia Masona

 The headline act of the 2013 campaign is d’bi.young anitafrika - the internationally celebrated Jamaican dubpoet, monodramatist and educator whose socially-conscious and highly dynamic performance and art works have made a significant mark upon the global psyche. D’bi Young believes in “life, love and r/evolution”.  Raised in Kingston, Jamaica, she moved to Canada in 1993, and exploded onto the Canadian theatre scene in 2001.  She has since written 8 plays, authored 2 poetry collections, produced two dub albums and received 6 Canadian awards for her work. (http://www.dbi333.com/).  Her work has been extensively anthologized, featured on television from Cuba to Canada, and produced in theatres across North America, Africa, the Caribbean and Europe.  D’bi. is celebrated as a visionary storyteller, a passionate humanist and a leader in the development of arts education.  This is her second visit to Zimbabwe after passing through the capital in 2012 with the Poetry Africa Tour - and vowing to return.

D'bi Young

Poets from all over will delight fans of the spoken-word, and visitors are expected from neighbouring countries also.

  

The ‘16 Days’ Programme

 Mon 25 Nov, 6pm - Bocapa Open Mic for 16 Days

Music messages roll out from the very start of the programme, at the traditional Book Café Open Mic, where performing artists of every persuasion gather to participate in the longest running youth programme in Zimbabwe, from which many songs have been written, and many stars have been born. 

                                      
Tue 26 Nov, 8pm - Kessia Masona & Jam Signal

Zimbabwean firecracker Kessia Masona is a lively champion for the cause in her Tuesday night series, tonight sharing the stage in a back-to-back afro-pop double-bill with hot new jazz kids on the block ‘Jam Signal’, who acquitted themselves well in the recent October World Music Festival.

                   

Wed 27 Nov, 6pm - Free Film Screening “Peretera Maneta” (Spell My Name) by Tawanda Gunda Mupengo – A Zimbabwean short film, winner of UNESCO Children’s and Human Rights Award at Zanzibar International Film Festival 2006.  The film will followed by discussion.  Courtesy of Women Filmmakers of Zimbabwe as part of the 16 Days programme.

Thu 28 Nov, 5.30pm, Discussion: ‘From Peace In The Home To Peace In The World: Perspectives From Persons With Disabilities” - with Speakers: Radio presenter and gender activist Soneni Gwizi (Byo), Jennifer Shumba and Thabani Mpofu (lawyer).  Moderated by Admire Zaya.  Presented in collaboration with Signs of Hope Trust.  FREE, ALL WELCOME!

Fri 29, 8pm,                   Diana Samkange who has been delighting Harare audiences and rising steadily in the past year, carries the 16 Days message in her own show this Friday, sharing the stage with the dynamic young entertainer Ba Shupi.

                                     
Sat 30, 2-7pm - Sistaz Open Mic Special: Best Of 2013

The final 2013 platform for the popular ‘Sistaz Open Mic’ this end-of-year special features some of the strongest women artists who have risen up through the platform during the year and have used their artistic gifts and talents to influence change.

Mon 02 Dec, 6pm – Book Cafe Open Mic for World Aids Day

Book Café Open Mic invites artists to commemorate the day and ‘shout out’ about HIV and Aids.  In the open mic format, anyone may appear and anything can happen!  

Tue 03 Dec, 8pm - Kessia Masona is outspoken for peace in the world, tonight sharing the stage in a back-to-back fireball of lively entertainment with some of Zimbabwe’s most hilarious funny-men, Simuka Comedy!

Wed 04 Dec, 6pm, Free Film-screening: ‘Half The Sky: Turning Oppression Into Opportunities’ – A passionate call to arms, urging us not only to bear witness to the plight of the world’s women, but to help to transform their oppression into opportunity.  Courtesy of long-time 16 Days partner, Women Filmmakers of Zimbabwe.

                                

Thu 05 Dec,                  10am-4pm - Sistaz Open Mic Workshop – by invitation only

Thu 05 Dec, 5.30pm - Gender Forum Discussion: “The Art(is)t Shaman: Sitting at the crossroads of the personal, the political, and the spiritual in Black Womben's Art” – with Speakers d.bi Young (Jamaica/Canada) and Roxy ‘Xapa’ Mathazia (Zimbabwe), chaired by Cynthia ‘Flowchyld’ Marangwanda.  Free, All welcome!

Thu 05 Dec,                  8pm - Edith weUtonga & Ammara Brown - Two of Zimbabwe’s popular women artists share the stage in back-to-back high-energy performances running with the 16 Days theme. 

                                   
Fri 06 Dec, Poetry Workshop with visiting and local poets – By invitation only.
                                
Sat 07          Dec, 2-5pm - The ‘House Of Hunger Poetry Slam’ employs poetry for human rights – this December turning the spotlight on the International Day (which falls on 10 December); featuring d’bi young alongside over 20 Zimbabwean and 3 visiting South African poets, Mandisa Vundla, Mpho Khosi and Rennie Ndwambi – come feel the energy!
 

Sat 07 Dec, 8pm – The Human Rights Day Concert:  A riveting performance by visiting dubpoet D’BI YOUNG (Jamaica/Canada), opening with ‘3 Generations’ featuring Dudu, Clare and Uza, backed by gifted Zimbabwean artists¸ and the campaign at Book Café closes with a grand final performance by acclaimed singer-songwriter Victor Kunonga (a.k.a the Peace Ambassador) and his backing band Peace.

 BACKGROUND

 PAMBERI TRUST is a Zimbabwean arts development organisation that is founded on the belief that the arts are critical in shaping values that reflect society.  Cognisant of the economic potential of the arts and the need to create free, diverse means of cultural expression; Pamberi Trust exists as an enabling facility, by which all performing artists and producers of culture may develop, promote and perform their works, and participate in building the nation. 
 

Pamberi Trust’s gender project FLAME works to bring women artists into the mainstream of the arts in Zimbabwe.  It is the continuing aim of the FLAME project to provide women artists with opportunities for promotion, and - through these popular opinion leaders and new performance opportunities - to utilize the intersection between the arts and civil society for the promotion of peace and nation-building.

Peace-Building

Since 2007, FLAME has presented a series of events between 25 November and 10 December each year, joining the world in the international campaign ‘16 Days of Activism against Violence against Women’. 

For 2013, the programme is supported by Hivos, Africalia, AST, Pro Helvetia, SDC, European Union and the Embassy of Canada.

FLAME BURNING FOR TARIRO NEGITARE

This Saturday, Tariro neGitare brings her unique brand of afro-soul to the Book Café as she revisits the space where it all started, Sistaz Open Mic.  Tariro will bring the curtain down at the monthly Sistaz Open Mic event which is set to launch the beginning of this year’s 16 Days of Activism at the Book Café this Saturday, 9 November, 2-7pm.

FLtoR Tariro neGitare, Edith WeUtonga, Patience Musa; PHOTO BY BATSIRAI E CHIGAMA

Tariro has been doing rounds rubbing shoulders with the music greats such as Oliver Mtukudzi, Edith WeUtonga, Victor Kunonga, Dudu Manhenga, becoming a force to reckon with in the arts not only partaking but creating platforms for artistic expression.   She is the founder member of the now popular Acoustic Night platform held monthly at the German Society and has gone on to form her own band called Tariro neGitare. 

Sistaz Open Mic has become a space where stars are born, encouraging women artists to take to the stage, collaborate and even form their own bands.  This year alone the platform has seen the rise of a number of promising female voices like Kessia Masona, Maria Vera Chisvo, Pierra Makondora, Tinashe Tafirenyika, Tendai Mavengeni, Yolanda Hassan, Pauline Jere just to mention a few.

Pierra Kel Rodgers: PHOTO BY BATSIRAI E CHIGAMA

Sistaz Open Mic is once again proud to be actively involved in the 16 Days Against Gender Violence awareness campaign to stimulate action and discussion on this issue, with a powerful programme of activities lined up at the Book Café. These include music and poetry performances from some of Zimbabwe's most talented women artists; discussions, film-screenings, and ‘A Workshop for Women Artists by Women Artists’. Special guests for the 16 Days programme will be announced in due course and will be participating in several events in the programme, and performing in the final concert on Sat 7 December, alongside Zimbabwean artists.

This month’s guest musician will be Theresa Muteta who recently returned home from a tour in Europe.  She will be supported by African Pride, another fast rising band, who recently performed at the October World Music Festival in Harare.   Other artists billed to perform will be Maria Vera Chisvo, Were, Eve Kawadza, Alice Chinya and Sista Zai.  Tariro neGitare will wrap up the day’s event at the Sistaz Open Mic after party happening promptly after the open mic at 5pm.

 ENDS

Prepared by Batsirai E Chigama

Gender Project Officer
FLAME PROJECT

ANNUAL CULTURAL INDABA ON THE CARDS

The National Arts Council of Zimbabwe (NACZ) will hold a National Arts and Culture Indaba on 30-31 0ctober 2013 at Stephen Margolis Resort. In it’s third year running the Indaba is a National Arts & Culture Strategy Dialogue held annually to discuss, deliberate and recommend specific courses of action in the cultural sector. It is a platform for stakeholders in the arts and culture sector to meet and dialogue on issues affecting the development and future of the sector, as well as taking stock of sector achievements.

Running under the theme "Turning Around the Arts and Culture for Sustainable Socio- Economic Empowerment" the Indaba will be attended by artists, administrators, policy makers and other players in the arts and culture sector. Some of the objectives being to create a platform/forum for Dialoguing, networking, Learning and contributing to consolidated growth of the culture sector in Zimbabwe as well as strengthening sector collaboration and participation in national processes in a coordinated manner. Moreover, to create a platform for the culture sector to input into national frameworks on Constitutional reform process, Culture policy, national strategies on culture and policies and issues affecting the Arts and Culture sector.

Presentations are expected from (Dr E Mberi and Albert Nyathi) on the topic – “The Arts and Culture Sector in Zimbabwe- Shifting perspectives for suitable livelihoods.”  The Indaba will also deal with " Exploring opportunities in the arts for strategic partnerships- partnering for a win-win situation".

Far Right, Albert Nyathi will be presenting at this year's Indaba: PHOTO BY BATSIRAI E CHIGAMA

The 2013 Indaba will especially be significant as the sector is celebrating the creation by His Excellency President Robert Mugabe, a Ministry of Sport, Arts and Culture that we are confident is going to change the face and future of the sector. In addition, this year’s Indaba will be an occasion to celebrate this landmark development and craft strategies of how the sector could ensure the mission and vision of the new Ministry is realized.

This year National Arts Council of Zimbabwe is partnering with Culture Fund of Zimbabwe Trust who has been supporting the last three Indaba events. NACZ expect that these deliberations will lay the foundation for future advancement of the arts industry.

 

Stephen Chifunyise, addresses delegates at the 2012 indaba. Seated L to R are: Nicholas Moyo, Deputy Director of the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe, Ghonche Materego, Executive Secretary of the National Arts Council of Tanzania and Farai Mpfunya, Director of the Culture Fund of Zimbabwe Trust. 

Last year’s Indaba was held in Masvingo at Flamboyant Hotel with guest speaker  Ghonche Materego, Executive Secretary of Basata - National Arts Council of Tanzania sharing the Tanzanian experience with the delegates in attendance.  Key to last year’s presentations was the presentation by Stephen Chifunyise who presented on the funding of the arts in Zimbabwe.  Issues were raised and with no doubt will continue to arise and one hopes that there is a follow up and resolution in these dialogues.

 

 By Batsirai E Chigama

SOM SUMMER JAM IN PICTURES

Tina Watyoka, Eve Kawadza with Synik: PHOTO BY BATSIRAI E CHIGAMA

Sista Zai(October Guest Poet): PHOTO BY BATSIRAI E CHIGAMA

Clarybel Nyakujara(Guest Musician): PHOTO BY BATSIRAI E CHIGAMA

Cindy Munyavi & Clarybel Nyakujara: PHOTO BY BATSIRAI E CHIGAMA

Cindy Munyavi: PHOTO BY BATSIRAI E CHIGAMA

Kessia Masona: PHOTO BY BATSIRAI E CHIGAMA

Kessia Masona: PHOTO BY BATSIRAI E CHIGAMA

Kessia Masona: PHOTO BY BATSIRAI E CHIGAMA

Sistaz Jamming this Summer

“Sistaz come and do your thang,” is an open call made every second Saturday for the Sistaz Open Mic hosted at the Book Café every month from 2-5pm.  Open mic platforms don’t get as open as this. The platform invites women artists from all disciplines to come and freely express themselves in the safety of daytime: dance, poetry, theatre, music, comedy, whatever the poison there is always an encouraging audience to spur the rookies on as well as celebrate the beginnings of tomorrow’s stars.

It's always fun at Sistaz Open Mic: PHOTO BY BATSIRAI E CHIGAMA

This month the open mic features Clare Nyakujara and The Other Four as the guest musician.  Clare has been performing at the open mic for a while, now a seasoned musician she continues to grace the platform to inspire other young up-coming artists who throng the event every month.  Fresh from Intwasa Arts Festival where she featured in the group THR3E GEN3RATIONS, Clare promises a memorable serving from her three albums to date.

Clare Nyakujara: PHOTO BY DENNIS MADYIRA

 Also appearing at the Sistaz Open Mic is guest poet, Sista Zai who is currently based in Australia.  Sista Zai is a storyteller, performer and community arts worker with a passion for Africa and working with African women. Sista Zai has performed in Melbourne, Australia, at The Emerging Writers Festival, La Mama Courthouse Theatre and Federation Square. In 2011, Sista Zai founded "Stillwaters Storytelling Collective", a social enterprise that promotes and develops African-descended women's storytelling.

Sista Zai: October Guest Poet

Other performers confirmed are Fortunate Matenga, popularly known as Sister Flame, Pierra Kel Rodgers, Maria Vera Chisvo.  Taking care of business will be hostess Eve Kawadza, fronting vocalist for BlaQBerry Jazz.

To close the show FROM 530-7pm, will be Kessia Masona.  Kessia has worked with the open mic since 2009 and recently released her debut album “Gumbomutsvairo” already enjoying airplay on several radio stations. Kessia is a highly energetic performer, asked what she the people should expect, she infectiously laughs and says, “Asipo hapana chaanowona.”

Themed Sistaz Open Mic Summer Jam, this month celebrates the diversity of Zimbabwean art and calls on all women artists to make use of this available resource to grow their confidence on stage as well as come and network with other women artists.

Participants are advised to register before 2pm to avoid disappointment.

 

By Batsirai E Chigama

Gender Project Officer

For Pamberi Trust

 

“IN CELEBRATION OF FEMALE LITERATURE”

To honour the 2013 Zimbabwe International Book Fair (ZIBF), the bookshop at Book Café in conjunction with ZIMBABWE WOMEN WRITERS and PAMBERI TRUST announces an evening “IN CELEBRATION OF FEMALE LITERATURE” on Wednesday 2nd October at Book Café, 139 Samora Machel Avenue, Harare.

 

The celebration features performances and readings from Zimbabwe’s sensational young poet Cynthia Marangwanda who brought the house down at Poetry Africa (2012) and who has performed in Netherlands and South Africa, and alongside her the fast-rising Mbira player and vocalist Pauline Gundidza, with a literary reading from Zimbabwe’s very own doyenne of women writers, Barbara Nkala.  

 

Cynthia Marangwanda: A Dikson Slamajamjar Photo

A discussion platform on the theme: “How are female figures represented in contemporary Zimbabwean fiction?” will be led bywriter and a media consultant Tinashe Mushakavanhu with writerIsabel Bandason (nee Mafuso).

 

Tinashe Mushakavanhu holds a PhD in English from University of Kent and degrees from Welsh and Zimbabwean universities. He has co-edited four books including State of the Nation: Contemporary Zimbabwean Poetry (2009) and Visa Stories: Experiences Between Law and Migration (2013). Creative writer and businesswoman Isabel Bandason is a passionate exponent of positive images of African women in literature and has been a member of Zimbabwe Women Writers since 1992.

 

Tinashe Mushakavanhu
 

The moderator will be Mrs Ruby Magosvongwe who is a ZWW and ZIBF board member and Lecturer in the Department of English at the UZ, among other portfolios.

 

Literary Competition

The celebration will launch a literary competition, to write a 300-word essay on “The female writer (or a novel or story written by a female) that changed my life and perception” open to Zimbabweans, with prizes and public readings to be announced.

 

 

JAZZ TRIO THRILLS AT INTWASA

BULAWAYO-BORN jazz diva Dudu Manhenga’s second bite of the cherry at the Intwasa Festival KoBulawayo left an indelible mark on Thursday night as she performed with two other female jazz artistes in a colourful event held at Elite 400.

Luyanduhlobo Makwati
Own correspondent
Southern Eye

Dudu, as she is affectionately known, shared the stage with sibling Zanele Manhenga, aka Uza, and Clare Nyakujara on a night dubbed “Intwasa Spring Jazz Night." The three women performed in the mould of Three Generations and left the audience captivated and asking for more through their sweet and powerful voices.


PAMBERI TRUST PHOTO: BY DENNIS MADYIRA

The performance was the main attraction of the night.

The three talented women who had earlier on promised to put up a scintillating performance did not disappoint as they gave the audience lively entertainment. They treated the audience to an assortment of fun which some revellers termed a three-in-one performance because of their sharp voices that were well varied.

PAMBERI TRUST PHOTO: BY DENNIS MADYIRA

PAMBERI TRUST PHOTO: BY DENNIS MADYIRA
 

The three phenomenal jazz vocalists were led by veteran Dudu, who kept revellers on their toes.
Clare and Uza backed Dudu with their sharp voices that made the performance a gig to remember.
The super-charged stars put up a superb show from the moment they took their act on stage.
Uza and Clare said they were happy to be in Bulawayo and looked forward to be in the city more often.

The Spring Jazz Festival was a successful partnership between Intwasa Arts Festival and F.L.A.M.E(Female Literary Arts & Music Enterprise), a project by Pamberi Trust, a Harare based arts development organisation.

Dudu, Clare and Uza Do the Boys

Three Generations are (LtoR) Clare Nyakujara, Dudu Manhenga and Uza Manhenga. FUNGAIFOTO | FF&A PHOTOGRAPHY

The group Three Generations performs at the Book Café, September 12, 2013. The show was themed 'Girls Doing Boys' and featured the three ladies doing a set of songs by the legendary Zimbabwean township music groups, Mbare Trio and Cool Crooners.

With one of the boys. Three Generations invite Friday Mbirimi of the Mbare Trio onto stage. FUNGAIFOTO | FF&A PHOTOGRAPHY

Three Generations is made up of three artists who have made it in their own right; Dudu Manhenga, Clare Njyakujara and Uza Manhenga. They say being in the group allows them to break out of their typecast performances as solo artist and 'just get crazy'.

There was a change of outfits for the Cool Crooners set.FUNGAIFOTO | FF&A PHOTOGRAPHY

Three Generations has another show at the Book Café on Saturday, September 21, where the theme will be 'Girls Bands Bang'. After that they head to Intwasa Arts Festival in Bulawayo for a performance on September 26.

Courtesy of zimbojam.com

Women with Disability-Sexuality & Sensuality

The Book Café Gender Forum took place on the 28th of August hosting Marlene Le Roux, Director of Artscape Audience Development and Education Artistic Program(Capetown)  Soneni Gwizi(Radio Broadcaster, Gender & Disability Activist) chaired by Cleopatra Ndlovu(Gender Activist) The discussion set to interrogate issues that affect disabled women and how much advocacy is being done vis a vis what needs to be done in regards to the protection and promotion of the interests of disadvantaged and disabled women in Africa.

Cleopatra Ndlovu, Marlene Le Roux congratulate Soneni Gwizi as she receives the Women4Africa Award: PAMBERI TRUST PHOTO

Issues raised included unfavourable policies and laws where women with disabilities are concerned, insensitive infrastructure, the silence(Marlene highlighted her encounter with disabled people who were locked up in their homes by family members and not allowed to leave the house), abuse of disabled women, maternal concerns, the need to empower the disabled so they are able to fend for themselves as being disabled in very costly.

The charisma and humour exuded by Marlene and Soneni was infectious, speaking to the fact that life does not end because one is disabled.  "The campaign about disability is not just about us born with disability, it's also about you can become disabled."


Marlene Le Roux in performance: PAMBERI TRUST PHOTO

"Who are you to tell me I'm not a woman/

I have thighs, I have breasts, I have a bum, I have a vagina,

I have everything that you yearn for/

  So who are you not to tell me I'm not disabled/

I am a disabled wonderful woman/I am a woman." Marlene Le Roux

Soneni Gwizi, honoured by Women 4Africa, 2013 in the Recognition for Outstanding Achievement category. The awards honour and celebrate African women who are dedicated to making positive and impactful change in their communities: PAMBERI TRUST PHOTO

Other issues raised included the need for advocacy to teach the general populace who one day may find themselves disabled or bring forth a child that is disabled; demystification of  cultural perceptions regarding disability; portrayal of people with disabilities in the media.

The profound closing was, "Nothing about us without us."

The Book Cafe Gender Forum is a monthly discussion, targeting human rights activists, members of civic society, and members of the general public.  This month’s discussion was made possible by the Book Café Gender Forum in partnership with the Konrad Adenauer Foundation.

By Batsirai E Chigama
for Pamberi Trust

“Protection and promotion of the interests of disadvantaged and disabled women in Africa.”

PAMBERI TRUST PRESS RELEASE:  26.08.13

 

Speakers:            Marlene Le Roux, Director of Artscape Audience Development and Education Artistic Program(Capetown)

Soneni Gwizi(Radio Broadcaster, Gender & Disability Activist)

Cleopatra Ndlovu(Gender Activist)

 The Book Café, 139 Samora Machel Avenue, Cnr 6th Street

Wednesday, 28 Aug, 2013 – 5.30-7pm

Gender Forum Discussion:

 

“Protection and promotion of the interests of disadvantaged and disabled women in Africa.”

 The rapid integration of world economy has transformed the world at large and its women. However, it has ushered in its way many changes of immense significance and fresh opportunities.  Though a great deal of progress has been done to protect and promote the interests of disadvantaged and disabled women, more efforts are required to create a sense of awareness and confidence to enable them to become active participants in the process of social transformation and regeneration.   WHERE ARE WE NOW IN AFRICA?

 

Marlene Le Roux, Director of Artscape Audience Development and Education Artistic Program(Capetown) is joined by Soneni Gwizi(Radio Broadcaster, Gender & Disability Activist) together with Cleopatra Ndlovu(Gender Activist) as they interrogate issues that affect disabled women and how much advocacy is being done vis a vis what needs to be done in regards to the protection and promotion of the interests of disadvantaged and disabled women in Africa.

 In November 2009, Harare arts development organisation Pamberi Trust created a platform for the discussion of gender and women’s issues at The Book Café in Harare.  Aimed at contributing to initiatives of advancing gender equality and promoting women’s rights in Zimbabwe, The Book Café Gender Forum has become a popular space for tackling issues of concern guided by audience responses.

The Book Cafe Gender Forum is a monthly discussion, targeting human rights activists, members of civic society, and members of the general public.  This month’s discussion is hosted by the Book Café Gender Forum in partnership with the Konrad Adenauer Foundation. 

The discussion is FREE and all are welcome.

 

SISTAZ OPEN MIC CELEBRATES S/HEROES IN STYLE

Blessing Chimanga: PAMBERI TRUST PHOTO



Joseph Chinouriri with Tariro neGitare: PAMBERI TRUST PHOTO

Blessing 'Bled' Chimanga: PAMBERI TRUST PHOTO

PAMBERI TRUST PHOTO

Michelle Mutasa: PAMBERI TRUST PHOTO

Pauline Jere: PAMBERI TRUST PHOTO

Tariro neGitare, Edith WeUtonga & Patience Musa: PAMBERI TRUST PHOTO

Edith WeUtonga with Patience Musa: PAMBERI TRUST PHOTO

Patience Musa: PAMBERI TRUST PHOTO

FUN FUN & FUN: PAMBERI TRUST PHOTO

Fortunate Matenga: PAMBERI TRUST PHOTO

PAMBERI TRUST PHOTO

Edith WeUtonga: PAMBERI TRUST PHOTO

Ba Shupi: PAMBERI TRUST PHOTO

Sistaz getting down to the music of  BaShupi

Cynthia Mare with Edith WeUtonga: PAMBERI TRUST PHOTO

Cynthia Mare: PAMBERI TRUST