Average Joe's Blog

Jerry Davison Upcoming Chitungwiza artists benefited from a personal management course by Building Opportunities on Artistic Talent Foundation, in which they were taught to view their talent as a business that could propel them into enterprising artisans. The artists, among them sculptors, painters and musicians, were taught entrepreneurship skills, personal management, product development and marketing planning. Plans are also afoot for the launch of a course on the dangers of HIV and AIDS. Conducted by the student organisation, the workshop targeted the up and coming artists who are trying to break into the arts industry. BOAT member Allan Mudanhu of the Catholic University said the organisation was formed with the intention to harness the talents of artists into gainful business ventures. BOAT has since engaged the support of the National Arts Council in its quest to make the country's show business a profitable industry. "What we did to try and groom the artists into sel...

While Europeans flocked to the Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, France, a sizeable crowd showed their appreciation of the Zimbabwean culture when they gathered at the Chitungwiza Arts Centre to commemorate the culture week at the weekend. The centre - a ten-year old institution housing various art forms from music, sculpture, painting to dance troupes - was a hub of activity on Saturday as invited groups showed the staff they are made of to a small but appreciative crowd. Guest of honour and National Arts Council of Zimbabwe representative, Ms Matubu summed the day up when she said that as Zimbabweans, we should be proud of our culture. This year's theme for the culture celebrations was Cultural Diversity for National Development. "There is nothing as important as teaching our children the local cultural values," said Ms Matubu, adding that the culture of a country was its window to the outside world. Siting the instance of Zvidozvevanhu Culture Ensemble, currently perf...

CAPS United vice captain Limited Chikafa was having a time of his life the other Saturday at the Chitungwiza Aquatic Complex where Alick Macheso was belting out his baritone guitar. Alcohol was free flowing, probably not least because Chikafa and Shooting Stars defender Tapfumaneyi Gweshe were in the company of a bevy of young looking ladies whom they spoiled throughout the whole night. But three days later, Chikafa must have regretted his bingeing escapade when he arrived at Number 1 Wilfred Court, Fife Avenue – a place he called home – to find that he was suddenly homeless. For, while the Makepekepe vice captain was busy plotting the downfall of Highlanders in last Saturday’s crunch tie at Rufaro Stadium, the messenger of court was hauling his property out of his lodgings at Wilfred Court into the street, and changing locks, in the presence of Chikafa's wife, Viola Roti. Owner of the property, Ms. Betty Mayenda had, through her lawyers, Mutamangira and Associates, taken CAPS U...

"When we first met, I never thought that in a million years, Will and I will be together," says Jada Pinkett-Smith of her husband, William Smith. The pair met when Jada auditioned to act as Will’s girlfriend in the comedy ‘Fresh Prince of Bel Air’. Incredibly, the directors turned Jada down, considering her too short for the fresh prince. But, two years down the line, Will proved them wrong when he walked her down the aisle. In this light, City.com went to task to explore what it took for our local stars to exchange their ‘I do’s’ as well as the challenges of keeping them. Pastor and Mai Charamba’s rendezvous was 13 years ago, when they featured in Pastor Bernard Mukwenyera's crusade team - way before stardom knocked on their doorsteps. And the woman known as Olivia Maseko then took an instant liking to Charles Charamba’s soulful voice, which many, according to Mai Charamba herself, found “funny.” Soon they discovered that they were symbiotic more important ways tha...

When Clever Mukazi saw his video Wakanditambisira Nguva signing off Zimbabwe Television’s Sunday Edition on May 20, something inside him told him that part of his struggle to gain recognition in the fledgling urban grooves music industry had been won. The 25-year old is part of Soul Bone, an urban grooves outfit comprising four disabled friends fighting to prove to society that disability is really not inability. Soul bone intends to break new ground as the first successful disabled urban grooves group. The new video, off the album Ndangariro, is about two ‘lovebirds’ who get along quite well until the girl finds a better suitor, hence the boy’s lament that she wasted his time. “It’s actually a true story that happened to me,” said Mukazi. The video might be new but the song was recorded along with five others in 2005 “after a struggle.” This struggle started in 2001 when the four friends – Mukazi, Bright Kadengu (24), Goodnews Nyamakawo (23) and Victor Nyamakawo (21) – decided to ...

She's a bubbly girl with a hearty laugh. It is hard to believe her when she says she is reserved when among strangers. Like the first time she the Studio 263 cast. "I was very quiet," she recalls. "Each time I met one of those famous faces, I was like, hi! I've seen your face on tv!" Her name is Kimberley Mbunga, the girl who acts as the identity-torn Sakina in Zimbabwe's first ever television soap, Studio 263. Sakina has just jetted in the country to look for her father, who could be John or Jacob Huni. “Some might find the role of Sakina unsettling, but to me it’s exciting, really,” Kimberley smiles. “It’s challenging.” The excitement might stem from the fact that Kimberley actually attended a proper acting college after graduating from secondary school in London, UK. “I had only been two months into secondary school at Oriel Girls High when my aunt invited me to London.” That was in 2000. After four years at Kings Wood Secondary, “where I becam...