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Theatre in the Park Launches Laughter-Filled ‘Thursday Comedy Nights’

Theatre in the Park, has announced the launch of Thursday Comedy Nights, beginning on 29 August 2024 starting at 7 PM.

 

Featuring the charismatic Tanya Alex as host, the series promises to deliver a delightful slate of humor and entertainment, showcasing a lineup of several top-notch comedians every week.

“At Theatre in the Park, we believe in the transformative power of performance arts to connect and inspire our community. Our commitment to presenting diverse and engaging programs has made us a favorite gathering place for artists and audiences alike.

With the introduction of ‘Thursday Comedy Nights,’ we are excited to expand our offerings and provide a platform for emerging talents alongside established comedians,” said Taffie Matiure, programs and operations manager.

Tanya Alex, known for her infectious energy and sharp wit, will serenade audiences on Thursday evening, bringing her unique comedic perspective and a fresh roster of guests to the stage.

From hilarious observations about everyday life to side-splitting anecdotes, Tanya and her fellow comedians will ensure that laughter fills the air in our picturesque outdoor venue.

“Comedy has a magical way of uniting people, and I’m thrilled to create a space where we can all come together to share in the joy of laughter,” said Tanya Alex.

“I can’t wait to bring in an array of talented comedians who will keep our audience entertained and coming back for more!”

Attendees can expect a diverse range of comedic styles and voices with each performance, highlighting both local favorites and traveling talent.

Whether you are looking to unwind after a long week or simply seek an evening of joy and laughter, “Thursday Comedy Nights” at Theatre in the Park is the perfect destination.

Join us every Thursday evening at 7 PM. Tickets are available at the box office. Don’t miss your chance to be a part of this exciting new tradition in the heart of our community!

Zimbabwe’s Future Nyoni Aims for Top Prize in Mister Africa International 2024

Mister Africa International Zimbabwe is gearing up for the 12th edition of the Mister Africa International pageant to be held in Sierra Leone this December.

 

Zimbabwe’s delegate to the Mister Africa International 2024 competition is Future Nyoni, the reigning Mister Africa International first runner-up from 2023.

Mr. Nyoni is not a newcomer to the competition, as he represented the country last year during the virtual competition and excelled, being crowned the first runner-up of Mister Africa International.

Rickie Osaze from Nigeria currently holds the prestigious title of Mister Africa International, succeeding Mathieu Bibasso of Côte d’Ivoire, who made history as the first French-speaking winner of the competition. Rickie triumphed over contestants from 29 other nations to claim the crown.

Since its inception in 2012 at the African Center in London, the Mister Africa International pageant has evolved into a vital platform for male models across Africa and its diaspora.

It offers them the invaluable opportunity to serve as ambassadors for the initiative, which is dedicated to fostering entrepreneurship in Africa through education and innovation.

Over the years, the competition has welcomed representatives from more than 40 countries, gracing iconic cities such as London (UK), Luanda (Angola), Ibadan (Nigeria), Lagos (Nigeria), and Abidjan (Côte d’Ivoire).

 

PROFILE OF THE MODEL: FUTURE NYONI

Future Nyoni, born in Hwange and now based in the majestic town of Victoria Falls, is married and a father of one.

He represented the country at a regional pageant that was held virtually from the 9th to the 19th of October 2023. A total of 30 African countries participated in the modeling pageant, which had the largest number of candidates since its launch in 2012.

He is the co-founder of Nambya Development Organisation Trust, co-founder of Party Haven Events & Supplies, and the Beauty Galaxy Organisation, a charity organization that aims to create a poverty-free society, especially for orphans, the elderly, and the disabled.

He is using his title (Mister Africa International first runner-up) to engage in various charity and community work, as well as to continue participating in international runway fashion shows.

For him, modeling is everything. It means expressing his thoughts and feelings on the runway, during commercial shoots, and in life in general.

His professional modeling career started in 2017 at Open Eye Studios, run by former Miss Zimbabwe Samantha Tshuma.

Some of his achievements include: Victoria Falls Runway King 2022, Best Zim Male Runway 2020, Most Photogenic 2020, reigning Mr. Senior Zim 2022, first runner-up Mister Africa International, and Best Dressed Gentleman award (at Mister Africa International 2023).

Future Nyoni has participated in the Beautiful You African Fashion show in Malawi, The Global African Fashion Coalition in Nelspruit, Mpumalanga in South Africa, and the Edgars Zimbabwe Extravaganza fashion show in Bulawayo.

TV’s Best to Be Honoured for a Second Time in 2024 at the 76th Emmy Awards

Fans of the best in television will be able to watch the second Emmy® Awards ceremony of 2024 – the 76th Emmy®Awards – live on M-Net (DStv Channel 101) at 2am on Monday 16 September, followed by a recorded broadcast in prime time at 9pm on the same day.

 

The 75th Emmy® Awards, honouring the best shows of 2022/23, took place in January this year due to the 2023 Hollywood labour disputes involving writers and actors, so the 76th edition will award the best of 2023/24.

Emmy® Award-winning multihyphenates Eugene Levy and Dan Levy are set to host the ceremony, marking the first-ever father-son duo to do so.

Eugene, a Canadian comedy legend, and Dan, one of Hollywood’s breakout actors, directors, and producers of the last decade, shared, “We’re thrilled to be able to raise a glass to this extraordinary season of television and can’t wait to spend the evening with you all,”.

M-Net is home to plenty of nominated shows and actors, including Curb Your Enthusiasm (Best Comedy Series); Fargo and True Detective: Night Country (Best Limited or Anthology Series);

Larry David for Lead Actor in a Comedy Series (Curb Your Enthusiasm); Matt Bomer (Fellow Travellers) and Jon Hamm (Fargo) for Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series;

Jodie Foster (True Detective: Night Country) and Juno Temple (Fargo) for Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series – amongst others across the 28 categories.

These titles can all be viewed on DStv Catch Up, DStv Stream as well as Showmax.

South African Heroes Awards Honours Icons Khanyo Maphumulo and ZaneMeas

Veteran musician Khanyo Maphumulo together with legendary actor Zane Meas will be presented with the Ubuntu and Iconic Impact  Awards at this year’s South African Heroes Awards ceremony.

 

The prestigious awards ceremony will be held on the 21st of September 2024 at the Market Theatre in Newtown, Johannesburg.

Khanyo Maphumulo, is a legendary musician and actress known for her roles in ‘Sarafina’, and ‘The Lion King’. She is also a singer and a producer.

Maphumulo is a philanthropist, who over the years has availed herself in women empowerment initiatives other community development activities. Through her Khanyo Maphumulo Foundation she aims to help those who are in need, especially in rural areas where there is lack of resources and exposure to art.

Maphumulo will be honoured with the Iconic Impact award at the SA Heroes Awards 2024. The award honours an icon who has lived and continues to live their lives giving of themselves to others to ensure they succeed in life.

Maphumulo’s exceptional contributions through mentorship, training, and community upliftment make her a deserving recipient of this honour.

Khanyo Maphumulo: “I’m honoured and thank God for the Gift. Khanyo Maphumulo Foundation will do more next year to uplift the community and make the late Dr Mbongeni Ngema proud”.

Zane Meas is a veteran actor and writer known for his roles in ‘Isidingo’ & ‘7de Laan’. He is the Founder and CEO of The Fatherhood Foundation of South Africa.

Established in 2006, the foundation seeks to improve the well-being, and development of the potential of all communities in South Africa through the increased proportion of children growing up with involved, responsible, committed and loving fathers.

Meas will be honoured with the Ubuntu Award at the South African Heroes Awards 2024.

Zane Meas: ” Wow! Thank-you for this honour. I am grateful to be recognized for the work I do throughout the country – speaking to men and the family, about the importance of fatherhood. I have been to all four corners of our nation, from villages to boardrooms. Present and intentional fathers will make a difference in our society.

“As the Founder & CEO of The Fatherhood Foundation of South Africa I am excited and honoured to be recognised for such a prestigious award. I thank Amanda Matshaka and the organisers of the SAHA for this honour and wish the awards a long and fruitful existence”.

SA Heroes Awards Founder, Amanda Matshaka: “The South African Heroes Awards celebrate people who go out of their way to make a difference in their communities.

These are unsung heroes; they take care of orphans, they train and mentor young people, they help the poor, the elderly and the vulnerable. We are proud to honour and celebrate these philanthropists and hope that our gesture inspires others to follow suit”.

Sponsor Mohlalefi Engeering CEO, Martin Masitise: At Mohlalefi Engineering, we believe that individuals are built by the societies they live in. Building a healthy society is imperative in an individual’s growth and development.

Our slogan is; Passion. Growth. Excellence. As Mohlalefi, we are passionate about being a part of a thriving society, we are keenly interested in the growth of the individuals in society, and we support excellence.

Hosted by the vivacious actress Linda Njotini-Ugbobuaku, and TV broadcaster and celebrated Poet, Lilitha Ntsundwani, the 6th annual South African Heroes Awards promises to be an inspiring, empowering, fun-filled, and entertaining evening celebrating unsung heroes.

Performances will include Zola 7, Afro-pop sensation, Ntokozo George, Dedicatin ZA (amapiano), Maskandi duo, Isiko, Gospel singer, Thobile Gumede and many more, with special appearance by the legendary musician Mercy Pakela and the dynamic Influencer duo Fezzy and Fezz.

DJ Neptune Drops an Intriguing New Single “Honest” Featuring Qing Madi

Internationally renowned DJ Neptune discloses the release of his new single entitled “Honest,” which he features the brilliant Qing Madi.

 

“Honest”, produced by the ingenious Reward Beatz, is surely going to be one of the major tracks that will be contained in DJ Neptune’s highly anticipated album, Greatness 3.0.

“Honest” fuses Afrobeat with current pop to create this spellbinding single, typical of DJ Neptune’s style, while bringing into view the peculiar vocal talent of Qing Madi.

The collaboration of these two artists has created a single that’s both new and timeless, promising to connect with listeners across different genres.

This track simply portrays DJ Neptune’s unparalleled ability in the art of fusing different musical elements, Qing Madi brings another layer to the song, her vocal strength laced with so much emotion, dynamism fully on display.

The fast-rising star who has been taking over the industry in such a short period is giving an absolutely great performance on “Honest,” with her signature style adding authenticity to her voice and undeniable talent, which makes her just perfect for the visionary production by DJ Neptune.

Scratch-to-play mixes that make him one of the most coveted wheels men, a string of hit singles, and albums; DJ Neptune ups the ante with Greatness 3.0. This is going to be a game-changing piece with eclectic sounds and collaborations from some of the best talents in the business.

It has been an incredible journey being part of ‘Honest, says Qing Madi. DJ Neptune is a legend; being on the same song with him is a major honor. This song means everything to me, and I just can’t wait for everybody to listen to it.

DJ Neptune chimed in his view about the release, saying, “The experience working on ‘Honest’ with Qing Madi and Reward Beatz has just been great; this track is truly the sound of Greatness 3.0, and I can barely wait for the world to feel what we have made.”.

The music video for “Honest”, directed by filmmaker Alien, will be released on YouTube on Friday. The video promises to be a visual feast, enhancing emotional depth and appeal within the song.

“Honest” is also available for pre-save at all major streaming platforms. Keep watching DJ Neptune and Qing Madi’s social media accounts for further updates and exclusive content.

CLPSL Matchday 24: Simba on Top, Platinum Falters, Khama on Ten

Simba Bhora have wrestled the top spot from FC Platinum as Tonderai Ndiraya’s men narrowly edged Bulawayo Chiefs 1-0 at Wadzanai Stadium on Saturday.

 

Walter Musona’s first-half free-kick secured all three points for Simba, who are yet to taste defeat at home in the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League.

The win means the Shamva-based side is now on 47 points, two points clear of the platinum miners, who are on 45.

Platinum Falter

Former champions FC Platinum lost 1-0 to Bikita Minerals at Sakubva on Sunday.
The Zvishavane-based side desperately needs the three points to shrug off competition from Simba Bhora, who are beginning to believe the ‘impossible’ might happen for them.

Bikita scored the solitary goal through Chris Makambira just before halftime to collect all the much-needed maximum points.

Platinum had to finish the match with 10 man in the second half after defender Mbongeni Ndlovu was shown a straight red card.

Bosso, Gamecocks in Draw

Chicken Inn and Highlanders played to a goalless draw in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match at Barbourfields Stadium yesterday.

Despite Chicken Inn playing the remainder of the 30 minutes with 10 men, Highlanders failed to capitalize, and the result was the sharing of the spoils.

Bosso, who are in third position, are now tied on 38 points with defending champions Ngezi, who are sitting in fourth but with a game in hand.

Caps Win..Again

Things are looking brighter at Caps United, who have now registered a third successive win for the first time in the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League this season.

Caps United beat FC Platinum and ZPC Kariba by the same margins in their last two games.

Young midfielder Kingsley Mureremba scored the winner moments before the break to guarantee the former giants a celebratory week.

Mureremba scored with virtually the only shot on target of the first half in a game that provided very little entertainment, as both teams lacked creativity upfront.

Khama Now on 10

Khama Billiat’s 13th-minute strike gave Yadah the opener as they eventually defeated Chegutu Pirates by 2 goals without reply.

Billiat now stands on 10 goals on the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League top goal scorers’ chart, tied with Caps’ Manondo and Machope of Simba Bhora.

NAMA Announces Major Changes for 23rd Edition

The National Arts Merit Awards (NAMA), Zimbabwe’s premier arts awards, have announced several changes that will take effect in the upcoming 23rd edition.

 

Some awards within the NAMA categories have been either added or renamed.

Announcing the changes at a press conference on Thursday afternoon, the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe (NACZ) Executive Director, Mr. Napoleon Nyanhi, stated that these adjustments were based on feedback received from the arts sector.

“In 2022, the NACZ embarked on a drive to gather feedback from the sector on the effectiveness of NAMA. This initiative began with the Board of Directors undertaking a nationwide consultative mission, dubbed ‘State of the Arts Sector in Zimbabwe,’ during which they visited each of the 10 provinces to gather opinions and recommendations for the arts sector in general,” said Mr. Nyanhi.

“This process culminated in two stakeholder meetings held in Bulawayo and Harare, specifically aimed at interrogating the NAMA categories and awarding processes. A great deal of valuable feedback was obtained, and today we present the changes that have been made to the awards as a result of these consultations.”

He also revealed that NACZ is currently working on a revamped website, set to go live on September 1, 2024, which will improve the efficiency and effectiveness of their mandate.

The new site will include features designed to provide more benefits to the sector.

For the upcoming 23rd edition of NAMA, consideration will be given to works of art produced between December 1, 2023, and November 30, 2024.

Jacaranda Culture Media Corporation, which has served as the event manager for the awards ceremony over the past six years, will be concluding its tenure with this edition of NAMA23.

Below is the full list of awards for the next edition of NAMA. Where changes have been made, they are indicated in brackets, with a brief explanation provided below the category:

 

  1. Visual Arts Awards

Outstanding Male Visual Artist (New)

Outstanding Female Visual Artist (New)

Outstanding Upcoming Visual Artist (New)

Outstanding Exhibition

Three new awards have been added to the Visual Arts Category to accommodate the diversity in this genre. It was also considered critical to honor the upcoming and motivate them.

 

2. Theatre Awards

Outstanding Actress

Outstanding Actor

Outstanding Theatrical Production

Outstanding Director

Outstanding Playwright (New)

The role played by the play write in theatrical productions is considered crucial for the success of the play. There are some plays were heavy credit is deserving to the playwriting prowess.

 

3. Literary Arts Awards

Outstanding First Published Work

Outstanding Fiction Book

Outstanding Non-Fiction Book (New)

Outstanding Children’s Book

 All writing is considered creative but there was need to distinguish between fiction and non fiction books and First published work was also crucial to motivate immerging writers.

 

4. Film & Television Awards

Outstanding Actor

Outstanding Actress

Outstanding Music Video

Outstanding Screen Production (Television)

Outstanding Screen Production (Full length film)

Outstanding Screen Production (Short Film)

 

5. Dance Awards

Outstanding Dance Group/Production (Renamed)

Outstanding Female Dancer

Outstanding Male Dancer

Outstanding Choreographer

A Dance production may not be an existing group but an ensemble that was put together for a specified piece of work. The outstanding efforts also deserve to be recognized and honored when they deserve.

 

6. Spoken Word Awards

Outstanding Stand Up Comedian (Renamed)

Outstanding Poet

Outstanding Social Media Skits

There was a need to specify on Stand Up comedy, which is a distinct type of art that falls under spoken word.

 

7. Music Awards

Outstanding Female Musician

Outstanding Male Musician

Outstanding Upcoming Musician (Renamed)

Outstanding Music Group (New)

Outstanding Song

Outstanding Album

Outstanding Upcoming is the new name for Newcomer as it considers various other qualities outside popularity of a new project. Music Group award was also added as this was a missing element in the category.

 

8. Special Awards

Outstanding Artist in the Diaspora

Outstanding Arts Journalist/Media house (New)

Arts Service Award

Lifetime Achievement Award

Promoter of the Year

Arts Personality Award

People’s Choice Award

Media awards are now under special awards. This award was perceived to be more of an honorary accolade rather than competitive because of the distinction in the nature of creativity.

Here are some Exciting things to look Forward to at #Shoko24

This year’s Shoko Festival has an exciting lineup, as seen in the program that has been released.

 

The urban culture festival will take place from September 26th to 28th, 2024, in Harare and Chitungwiza.

The Hub Unconference, which focuses on new media, civic tech, and journalism, is making a return under the theme “Level Up.” It runs from the 24th to the 25th of September.

Zimbuzz had the opportunity to catch up with Shoko Festival 2024 Coordinator, Vera Chisvo, who shed light on some of the highlights.

“Some of the major highlights for the Hub Unconference is the keynote talk by Justine Wanda from Kenya. Justine is a Comedian and Satirist and will be sharing insights on how to use TikTok to mobilize Gen Z,” she said.

“There is also a session by Thando Mlambo on urban culture pioneers in Zimbabwe, and there will be a live mural painting by Kudzi SSKD and Gerald.”

Kudzi created the official 2024 designs for the Shoko Festival.

Vera Chisvo also mentioned that this year, media and tech start-ups will have a chance to showcase for free.

One segment of the festival that has stood the test of time and continues to grow year after year is the free show in Chitungwiza, aptly named ‘Peace in The Hood.’

“Every year, we take great care in curating Peace in The Hood. We have a deep appreciation for Zimbabwean artists, and this is why over the years, the stage has had more local acts than international,” said Vera as she shared why the show is always ‘hip and happening.’

Vera Chisvo

She added: “We make sure that the lineup features the hottest local acts, from the biggest artists to the new and ready-to-break-out performers.”

Vera also highlighted that one of the reasons the show is always a hit is because they make a special effort to spotlight amazing acts from Chitungwiza itself, as the concert is hosted there, and they believe in promoting from within.

For those who have followed Shoko Festival since its inception as a hip-hop festival, the hip-hop acts are always a highlight.

This year, like every other, the festival will feature a strong lineup of hip-hop acts, including South African-based award-winning hip-hop queen, Nadia Nakai, popular rappers Voltz JT, Young Gemini, and Kayflow, as well as RayKaz, Dough Major, VI the Law, Dingo Duke, and Natasha Muz.

“Shoko is a festival that was born out of the love for hip-hop and urban culture. This year, as always, we are thrilled to have a strong hip-hop lineup that shows Zimbabwean hip-hop artists are a force to be reckoned with, ” said Vera.

She also highlighted the growth of the hip-hop scene over the years and that Shoko Festival is proud to be a part of that journey.

“This year, we celebrate hip-hop artists, both male and female and spotlight the amazing work they are doing,” added Vera.

Real Green: Bokola Film Festival Brings Climate-Focused Films to Harare

The 4th edition of the annual Bokola Film Festival will take place on August 24th at Moto Republik in Harare.

 

This year’s festival, themed “Reel Green,” is dedicated to nurturing inclusivity and addressing the urgent climate crisis facing Zimbabwe and the world.

Highlighting the power of cinema to drive social change, Bokola will feature a diverse lineup of films that entertain, educate, and inspire action.

Two standout projects, produced by the 2024 Film Fellowship Fellows, will make their debut screening “Fragile Existence,” a touching documentary exploring the challenges faced by people with albinism in rural Zimbabwe, and “Water Thief,” a gripping fiction film set in water-scarce Bulawayo that follows a heroine’s quest to provide for her community in robin hood fashion, stealing water from affluent neighbourhoods.

Additionally, Pan African Creator Award Nominee Kuda Rice will showcase his short film, “Chikwama.”

Bokola Film Festival is a project by Accountability Lab in collaboration with Magamba Network.

Together they have trained the Film Fellows to deepen their understanding of accountability and social justice within the Zimbabwean context, marking a 5-year partnership aimed at empowering emerging filmmakers.

“We believe in the power of film to reflect and represent diverse voices,” said Festival Director Dexter Fundire.

“Bokola is committed to showcasing films by, and about underrepresented communities, ensuring everyone sees themselves on the big screen.”

Beyond screenings, the festival will host interactive workshops, panel discussions, and Question and Answer sessions with filmmakers to  encourage dialogue and capacity strengthening within the industry.

Attendees can also enjoy live performances, a vibrant marketplace, virtual reality gaming, and a family-friendly atmosphere.

“Reel Green” is more than just a theme; it is a call to action. Bokola Festival aims to spark conversations, ignite creative solutions, and enable communities to build resilience in the face of climate change.

Admission to the Bokola Film Festival is free.

Reigning Miss Universe Sheynnis Palacios Arrives in Zimbabwe for Her First-Ever Visit

Reigning Miss Universe, Sheynnis Palacios, touched down at the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport late Monday afternoon for her first visit to Zimbabwe.

 

She is expected to be in the country as part of her world tour, before handing over the title to her successor in November.

The 24-year-old from Nicaragua was crowned the 2023 Miss Universe in a tight contest held in the capital of El Salvador, San Salvador.

At the airport, Palacios was welcomed by the Miss Universe Zimbabwe chairperson, Colonel Miniyothabo Chiwenga, the Miss Universe Zimbabwe Director, Tendai Hunda, and their board members.

Officials from the Ministry of Tourism and Hospitality Industry were also present.

Several queens and title holders, including the current Miss Universe Zimbabwe, Sakhile Dube, and her two runners-up, Miss Universe Zimbabwe 2023, Brooke Bruk-Jackson, and Miss Supranational Zimbabwe 2024, Yollanda Chimbarami, were also there to give her a warm welcome.

During her visit, Sheynnis Palacios took the time to speak to the gathered media. She said: “This trip has made my life whole. I believe that every day is a new day to learn. I have been to 28 countries, and I am here to feel your energy.”

She continued, “We want to promote Destination Zimbabwe and represent the diversity of every single woman around the world. We are happy to be here and excited to share your culture and cuisine.”

Palacios will spend five days in Zimbabwe, meeting with other models and exploring the country’s culture and tourist destinations, including one of the seven wonders of the world, Victoria Falls.