Zimbabwe: Nonmhlalo Dube shines in the film industry
By Alfred Tembo – BULAWAYO – Zimbabwean film has continues to brace evidence that will soon develop into the country’s largest artistic to income generating business, following a sharp rise in the number of young energetic filmmakers taking the podium of the once male dominated business.
Nonmhlalo Dube
Lately it was Davis Guzha, Tafadzwa Muzondo, and Stephen Chifunyise, in the theater who have been the talk of the business, till now when the country has witnessed the emerging of Nonhlalo Dube, a Bulawayo based filmmaker.
At the age of 24, Dube has what it takes to occupy better space of Zimbabwe’s big screen. This comes at a time when she managed to secure an opportunity to showcase her debut screen play accepted by Zimbabwe’s only television station.
The educative and thrilling drama piece called Yeyeni Bantu
The drama has opened avenues and opportunities renowned playwright Styx Mhlanga, who took to work as the film director. Accord to Dube the film will run for 13 weeks on Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation Television Station (ZBCTV)
To maintain the momentum in the prestigious industry, Dube has also produced a stage play called The Road in Between that was recently premiered in Bulawayo, at Amakhosi Theater.
Road in between was penned and directed by Thembile Moyo. The drama seeks to tackle issues that deal with material gap between the poor and the rich on a promising marriage. As it unfolds, material conflicts threaten to end the relationship. The cast comprises of young gorgeous lady from a well-to-do family, who falls in an irresistible affair with a man from a fairly deprived background. Despite of riches the two lovebirds came from a long time affair.
However, Dube who is a product of Cont ka Mhlanga’s Amakhosi Academy is one of the many students from the arts education institution have displayed who have astonishing ability in taking her artistic skill further.
“Amakhosi modeled and afforded me opportunity, to embrace my dream. Having script accepted by ZBCTV was for me a ground breaking experience.” said Dube .
On other production Dube played Catherine, in Mother Courage, a deaf and only daughter of the rich business woman. A play which she said it was a great test of her artistic skill as an actor.
“Acting has it own challenges. Sometimes you feel like talk but the role won’t allow you. That when one fight the burning inside her to simply cope and fit into the play” she said.
Dube believes that the world has enough opportunities or everyone regardless of where we are or where we are coming from.
“As young people we have to stand and fight the stigma of looking down upon ourselves, there is no preserve for men in the arts sector. Regardless of our backgrounds let’s claim a stake in the art disciplines available,” she explained further.
