KAPENANGUTJIUA Vetira, visiting founder and director of ChiNamimbia, a performing arts group from Namibia, has applauded the local Children’s Performing Arts Workshop (Chipawo) for promoting performing arts culture among African children.
BY WINSTONE ANTONIO
Kapenangutjiua, who is in the country with a group of 30 young Namibian arts educators and practitioners, was speaking to NewsDay ahead of the Chipawo’s annual Christmas show slated for tomorrow at Girls High School.
The end-of-year show, run-ning under the theme Celebrating Christmas the African Way, will see the two countries sharing and creating work together. “Namibian performing arts had been scraped in schools and it required a joint initiative between Chipawo and the National Arts Council of Namibia to revive it,” she said.
“We appreciate Chipawo’s project Bringing Chipawo to more children that has seen us coming to Zimbabwe for the first time and join them in celebrating this Christmas show.”
ChiNamibia is an initiative inspired by Chipawo Zimbabwe which is a part of the acclaimed international body, Chipawo World, which has been working with children and young people using the arts for social development for over 24 years.
As a result, Chipawo has facilitated the establishment and development of a number of sister organisations in neighbouring countries such as Botswana, South Africa and Zambia.
According to Chipawo manager Chipo Basopo, the Christmas show gives children the platform to express themselves freely through stories, scenes, song and dance.
- 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
“The annual Chipawo Christmas Show is an essential responsibility to ensure that local children relate to international and national events like Christmas in their own languages and in the context of their own lives,” she said.
“The idea of local children celebrating Christmas with their families in the Zimbabwean way in one that Chipawo would like to see spread to other cities, like Bulawayo, Masvingo and Mutare.”
At this year’s event, 350 children are expected to take part all of whom have been trained in music, dance and acting at the various Chipawo arts education centres dotted over the country.
