I AM aware I promised I was going to ask Edward Lange to look at the performance of Tafadwa Muzondo’s play Washington Junction by a group of united artistes in Lusaka, but will not as my sauntering into Chingola during the week to be part of the SAAZ festival has taken precedent. Thank you Lange, I will still feature your copy in a couple of weeks.
I have decided to focus at the School Arts Association of Zambia (SAAZ) festival which includes the provincial one going on in Mufulira right now, and for two weeks, I will be looking at it.
Well, Phinot ‘Ntambo’ Mulela and I were drafted to adjudicate the eleven plays and nine recitals; I found this exciting, though disappointingly, weaknesses appeared to have been lack of consistent on the part of the actors; they seemingly under rehearsed their plays.
I deeply feel, there is something amiss with some matrons and patrons whose boys and girls either forget their lines or moved about on stage without direction – how are these young people directed?
Teachers need to unquestionably take keen interest in theatre, and research in how real people of certain ages behave in order for their actors to act and perform realistically; do not let the actors operate in their parts as they wish, as individuals; it appears absurd!
However, there were wonderful, superb and breathtaking moments with selected schools and boys and girls, and this talent should be exploited, controlled, harnessed, and promoted.
Alongside ‘Ntambo’ Mulela, a renowned comedian, the two of us agreed to award Chingola Secondary School’s play Pastor and the run-away Bride by Lee Karim Augustine as the best – interestingly, Chingola Secondary School went ahead to win the poetry recital category with Am I by the same author; the first again in Choral music adjudicated by my other two colleagues Justine Mundubi Chapewa and Edgar Mwansa.
Trailing behind Pastor and the run-away Bride, was Buyatanshi Secondary’s Rose a play by Jonathan Simpemba then by Nchanga Secondary school’s Innocent Murderer by Eric Kasomo Jr. Darious Lombe’s The Reaction by Chikola Secondary came fourth, and  fifth was Maiteneke with Andrew Sekeletu’s Tingalile.
In the primary category Matelo with For better for Worse by David Malimba came first followed by Kabundi’s Who is to Blame by David Malimba.
Kasompe had End of Darkness by Alick Chileshe, Blue Hygiene Private school had The Rejection, Kapopo’s My Fault by David Malimba in that order with Chingola Primary School coming sixth.
Admittedly, in Rose as Natalya, Lydia Mwansa was the best leading actress supported in second position by Lydia Mbawvu who played Thembi in Chikola Secondary School’s The Reaction. Timothy Chanda as Innocent in Eric Kasomo’s Innocent Murder was the best leading actor trailed by Chambina Ngambi as Augustine in the Pastor and the run-away Bride.
The best stage set award went to Chikola Secondary school, while the youthful Yvonne Mwalula of Nchanga secondary in Innocent Murder went away with the cameo role.
In the primary category the leading actress award went to Jester Kilalo as Mrs Mate in Kubunda’s Who is to Blame with Sibeso played by Sharon Mwale of Blue Hygiene.
The best leading actor was won by Demus Tambatamba as Gaston in Matelo’s For Better for Worse supported by Elijah Simweulu of Kasompe Primary in End of Darkness while the award for best set and producer went to Kabundi Primary School. Elijah playing the physically challenged person was outstanding, and portrayed this role exceptionally well.
Additionally, I enjoyed Lubambe Primary School’s actors with special needs when they put up Whitestone Phiri’s Disobedient Children featuring Typin Mkandawire, Derick Lukolo, Florence Chipoya, Allan Bwalya and Steven Mwiche. Others were Mercy Besa, Mercy Chalwe and Stanley Chungu.
I agreed with what the District Education Board Secretary (DEBS) of Chingola Misozi Mwenya said about Chingola having a history of serious commitment to dramatic activities – away from schools at the Chingola Arts Society (CAS), where eight years ago in 1997 I was one of the three adjudicators alongside Westone Mutale Bowa and Mwango Mukuka.
Misozi said Chingola should not relax in underpinning the power of theatre, and during her official opening of the festival she referred to the late Mapopa Mtonga as one man who took theatrical activities for a life, and earned him not only fame, but a good life and living.
She urged the pupils to take theatrical activities seriously.
This is why during every serious play adjudication, many times I get frenzied when I notice major slips in the preparation of actors; improper pronunciation of words, awkward movements, and improper use
of props such as lighting fire on stage, violent actions and fights – and teachers are to blame for all this. This is why as the week-long Copperbelt Provincial SAAZ takes place in Mufulira from 17 to 21, such salient issues should be addressed.
In traditional dance, Chikola Secondary School came first and in choral music Chingola Secondary School maintained their slot as the indomitable champions.
In the Primary category, Lulamba Primary School traditional dance troupe came first as Kasompe did in the choral music. The two adjudicators Justine Mundubi Chapewa and Edgar Mwansa expressed gratitude too at the high level of performance particularly in the choral category.
As the person in charge of all the schools in Chingola Misozi was precise to illustrate the festival as one that rekindled recollections for the need to harness Zambian culture and invest in it as this is one of the biggest sleeping investment industry.
John.kapesa818@yahoo.co.uk – 0955-0967-0977-710975