THE Children’s Performing Arts Workshop (Chipawo)’s annual Christmas Show presented on Saturday at Girls High School was a resounding success.
WINSTONE ANTONIO,OWN CORRESPONDENT
Every year since 1995, the Chipawo community has presented a Christmas Show with a difference.
This year’s edition running under the theme Celebrating Christmas The African Way saw a Namibian children’s arts organisation ChiNamibia performing at the event as guest performers.
ChiNamibia is an initiative inspired by Chipawo Zimbabwe which is part of the acclaimed international body, Chipawo World, which has been working with children and young people using performing arts for social development for over 24 years.
Before the start of the show, the Chipawo family took time to observe a moment of silence in respect of one of their members Lord Kumbirai Chipagara, who was electrocuted to death on the same day she was billed to perform at the event.
Speaking to NewsDay, Chipawo manager Chipo Basopo said the Chipawo Christmas Show gave children the platform to express themselves freely through stories, scenes, song and dance.
“The aim of this Christmas Show was to try and present Christmas material with a difference and in this case, in an African and Zimbabwean idiom,” Basopo said.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
“It was amazing working with very creative children that brought a difference at this year’s edition of the show,” she added.
ChiNamibia founder and director Kapenangutjiua Vetira said they had learnt a lot that is going to help them improve both the development of skills and education of a broad range of social problems in Namibia.
“We enjoyed our tour and being part of the Chipawo Christmas Show has helped us learn a lot as we seek to promote knowledge of the cultural diversity of Namibia by giving a platform to children to voice their opinions through arts and cultural education,” she said.
More than 350 children, all of whom have been trained in music, dance and acting at various Chipawo arts education centres across the country, took part.
