BENJAMIN Moyo, the district schools inspector for the Harare High Glen District, has labelled a play adapted from the Giles Kuimba novel Tambaoga performed by the Vuka Africa Performing Arts Trust a key step in promoting local languages.
Speaking after a product test performance of the play, Tambaoga, at the Zimbabwe Hall in Highfield recently, Moyo said the play was a perfect remedy for social correction of the youth who are easily enticed by foreign languages at the expense of local languages.
He praised the cast, which was highly inclusive as it had included differently-abled members of society, including Tinashe Mutera, who acted brilliantly in the role of the king’s aide and bouncer.
“Central to the Heritage-Based Curriculum for our primary and secondary schools is the promotion of local indigenous languages and the study of the Shona literature through the novel Tambaoga and subsequently the play is equally important. The play provides an interesting interactive way of teaching and learning several aspects of culture,” Moyo said.
Tambaoga was written by Kuimba and it is one of the Ordinary Level set books under the Heritage-Based Curriculum, which embraces Industrial 5.0. The novel is fictitious and relates to several aspects of culture, spiritualism and retributive teaching. In summary, the Tambaoga story revolves around the character Tambaoga, a young Shona man who embarks on a journey of self-discovery and spiritual growth. As Tambaoga navigates the challenges of traditional Shona life, he must confront his demons, reconcile his past and find his place within the community.
James Mukwindidza director of Vuka Africa Performing Arts Trust said he would help to integrate the teaching of theatre as well as the aspects of the Shona novel. Students and teachers from the High Glen District of Harare, which include and are not limited to Simbaredenga High School, Highfield Mhuriimwe Secondary School, Glen Norah and Kwayedza schools, said the novel Tambaoga taught several vital aspects of Shona life, such as Ubuntu and community.
“The novel highlights the importance of community and interconnectedness in Shona culture. Tambaoga's journey illustrates the value of collective responsibility, mutual support and the interconnectedness of human experience. The novel explores the significance of spirituality and ancestor worship in Shona culture. Tambaoga’s interactions with the spirits of his ancestors demonstrate the importance of honouring one’s heritage and seeking guidance from those who came before us.
“The story touches on the tensions between traditional values and modernity. Tambaoga’s struggles to balance his desire for modern education and his commitment to traditional ways of life reflect the challenges faced by many young people in Zimbabwe today. Through Tambaoga’s journey, the novel illustrates the importance of personal growth, self-awareness and self-acceptance. Tambaoga’s experiences serve as a reminder that true fulfilment and happiness can only be achieved through a deep understanding of oneself and one's place in the world, just to summarise observations that emerged from a Reverend Nicholas Mukaronda-facilitated plenary session.
Teachers encourage students to critically identify themes and substantiate them with activities and characters’ behaviour and personality in the novel. Children can also distinguish facts from fiction in the drama, which is full of soothing mbira music and several needle drops.
Sylvia Mavezera, who acted as Mombeshora, one of the king’s aides, said she liked reading Shona literature and being awarded a role in the Tambaoga play was a breakthrough as it would make her established. She looks forward to
acting in more theatrical productions.
