TWO weeks ago, I strolled into Chingola for the Banham Awards organised by Chingola Arts Society (CAS), an annual recognition affair meant to rekindle the year – during which time the club decorates its outstanding theatre artistes, playwrights, producers, directors, players and stage crew members.
Unlike before, this 26th awards event was distinctive primarily for two rationales; the club spent ninety per cent of its own resources to award its members and club chairman Bwalya Chikwanda’s forceful speech in which he unmistakably challenged theatre clubs in Zambia to work hard in spite of the economic difficulties.
Guest of honour, Chingola Mayor Titus Tembo promised to help some some problems the club is facing. I would love to follow up the Mayor’s pledge to help restore the club’s infrastructure because he said it.
See what, Chikwanda Bwalya regretted  the poor state of infrastructure at CAS and appealed for help to bring back the club’s good old-age image; CAS surely needs repainting, redoing the auditorium, stage and generally offstage; the dimmer switch board and the lights, box office, change rooms – I noticed the bar was still very fine with some patrons surprisingly preferring to spend their time there than in the auditorium!
Chikwanda admitted that 2015 had been a difficult year hence CAS could not produce the usual six plays and only managed four namely, Let Fools Die (by Evans Kalandanya), My Family (Peter Ng’ambi), It’s Now My Time (Peter Ng’ambi) and Wounded Buffaloes by Alick Chileshe. He said he was indebted to his members for their commitment and dedication, saying they were the cornerstone of CAS.
As is the tradition at CAS from 1989, the Christopher Banham, named after the first chairman when the club was first opened in 1959 – has stood a head higher in local theatre.
Justly, Chikwanda pointed out that in the face of economic problems bigger institutions like NATAAZ and NAC faced could not go ahead with their formal 2015 festival calendars and yet CAS managed  despite its little resources manged to award its members.
I think the Ministry of Tourism and Arts alongside the Cultural department should grant this club the much-needed funds to uplift the club – so that it can continue doing the good works of producing plays. The presence of Chingola/Chililabombwe cultural affairs officer Shennie Mateyo was pleasing – he spoke humorously; he needs to report his findings from the ground to his bosses, if he doesn’t report, our performing arts would never grow!
CAS, by and large, is an unusual club on the Zambian theatre scene; it has obvious limitations, some common ones too. There are more outstanding feats the club has continued to score – I feel the Ministry of Tourism and Arts and the National Arts Council should pay attention and give kudos for a job well done.
CAS does not fail to run annual general meetings where it elects office bearers. The face of CAS is friendlier than many other theatre houses; boys, girls and the unemployed can be members because  membership fees are not prohibitive.
Look, elsewhere in the developed world, focus clubs such as CAS are highly rated. Theatre fans travel long distances to get entertained! I often give an example of the time I visited Bath City in England; we travelled over 90 kilometres to go and watch William Shakespeare’s ‘Macbeth’ in Gloucestershire. Macbeth is a  play actors have traditionally considered an unlucky tale and avoid calling it by the initial title and instead they  refer to it as The Scottish Play. However, I enjoyed the drama when I watched it and several years down the line, I have never forgotten that experience.
Every theatre club, in my view wants to visit CAS; I mean why would anyone not want to perform at a reputable club that seemingly is better organised? CAS, believably is for the people of Chingola, and others in Zambia, and there is no good reason other councilors should not support their Mayor in saving CAS – the availability of social amenities like an established theatre house are among the surest ways of conserving Zambia’s ailing culture and heritage.
Councilor Titus Tembo, during the awards, was pleased to rub shoulders with the artists, he confirmed, and pledged to uplift CAS’ deteriorating face; I want to seriously believe he meant waht he said.
For those outstanding feats during the 2015 CAS awards, Clement Muyasani was christened the fourth life member, adding to the three others: Ackson Tembo, Peter Ng’ambi and Andy Yauli.
‘Let Fools Die’ was awarded  as the best ‘CAS locally’ written script bringing out the playwright Evans Kalanadanya as the outstanding winner too – for the same play Clement Muyasani took the centre-stage as he walked away with the best producer’s award. Memory Kasweshi from the same play won best lead actress with the cameo role going to Lillian Chibwe.
Director of Let Fools Die Elias Chabushiku scooped the best award while My Family by Peter Ng’ambi walked away with the Props award.
The lead role best actor went to Darious Lombe from Wounded Buffalo alongside the supporting character Munkanta Mwelwa from the same play. Monica Namwinyi playing bana Kaswende (Let Fools Die) received the production manager’s nomination as was the case with Memory Mwansa for appearing on stage for the first time – showing lots of promise. CAS starlet Kate Zindaba was pushed into second slot as best supporting actress for her role in My Family.
For the best costume and makeup, Maluba Kambilo shared the awards with promising Alick Chileshe who took the best set and décor while Clarence Chisela was voted the best on sounds. Daniel Likulumoya and Gilbert Chisenga went away with the best lights and properties awards, respectively. A fruitful entertainment package filled the stage with traditional music, sketches and comedy anchored by Kitwe-based comedian Gershom Musonda. CAS founded in 1959 by a group of white miners known as ‘town members’ got together and raised funds, while the Anglo American company added the difference to build the club. The foundation stone was laid by the first chairman, Christopher Robert Banham followed by the official opening of the club by Queen Elizabeth, the queen mother (MHSRIP), on May 20 1960.
CAS has been owned and ran by the members who subscribe to its guidelines, and has maintained the presence of adjudicators throughout it’s existence.  Under Chikwanda, CAS last Sunday ushered in a new constitution, a process which started way back in 2006.
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Meanwhile, from the grapevine, Lusaka Playhouse is slowly getting back to life; a little bird told me a week ago, a new broom is sweeping through the club administratively; the cocktail bar has been refurbished and things are beginning to look up.
Many times I have been wondering what kind of problems have beset the Playhouse, yet like all over the world theatrical entertainment is one of the most prized outing people yearn for, and the playhouse is suited to provide such high class facility.
It is my great wish the Playhouse gets back to being descent and active again. Names like Crawford Moyo, Chris Mulambwa and others generally ring a bell, and should be seen to forthrightly spur the club to greater heights. We want to see play after play, as it was pleasing a fortnight ago when the club hosted the community-based Thapeza theatre’s ‘Mwaziona’ written by Moses Zondi Mtonga and directed by Chamunorwa Masuka – more about this play later. I want to say a huge Merry Christmas and a fantastic and Prosperous 2016 to all the readers and followers of this column. Take good care of the festival celebrations.-John.kapesa818@yahoo.co.uk – 095509670977