nileflow network

"They should be left free, go their own way and choose their paths of life instead of being “babied” every weekend so that someone can have access to government money"

Last week I received with extreme joy the news that my play, THE NEW ROAD, that was produced in Zimbabwe some four months ago had been nominated for the 2010 National Arts Merit Awards (NAMA 2010). After spending over a month in Zimbabwe working on this project between August and October I never thought the results would come so fast. I am still in denial!

We used to watch NAMA awards every year in Zimbabwe on national television, all the great Zimbabwean artists receiving their glittering awards in their fields of practice, from music to films to TV to theatre. I never thought one day my name would also grace this national event, but this year on February 20 it’s going to happen, and we never know what may happen. I could bag one for the year! Unfortunately I won’t be there to pick up the pig piece if things go that way.

Before THE NEW ROAD went on stage for three weeks, in September, I went to Theatre in The Park to watch one called HEAL THE WOUNDS, written by arguably Zimbabwe’s best playwright and former permanent secretary in Zimbabwe’s education and Culture ministry, Mr Stephen Chifunyise. What an awesome piece of art is was! The play caused a lot of debate among theatre lovers who watched it. I am told it ended up being performed all over the country. Even government officials went to see it. And for my work to be mentioned among great theatre works like Heal The Wounds is enough success. I will not be hurt a bit if HEAL THE WOUNDS takes the big prize because I personally think it’s worth it. If you want to know more about this play please Google it. I will give you a summary of THE NEW ROAD in the next article.

Mr Chifunyise sent me an email last week suggesting that we write a play together. This is what dreams are made of! I received the offer without second thoughts and the work has already started.

This week my main topic is a question. For how long should someone remain a refugee in New Zealand? Why I am asking this is because I have met a number of young people growing up here after coming to this country as kids. They speak like Kiwis, know no other culture apart from NZ culture, and some fragments of their own culture and act like Kiwis, but they are still being treated like new arrivals who need to be held by the hand to cross Queen Street.

There are organisations in and outside Auckland who have found ways to access government money in the name of helping so-called African refugees. I think these youths should now be “weaned” off these organisations’ breasts. But it won’t happen because once they are set free then these organisations crumble to the ground.

There were times that I approached some of these organisations asking if the African youths could participate in smaller roles in my works but I was turned down, told it wouldn’t happen. The reasons were never clear. How could someone have the power to control these youths to a point of saying no to them in participating in African activities? Where else should they go to feel African? Being driven week in week out in those vans in the name of refugees is not helping our community to grow and be independent. Those youths have become so dependant on these organisations and this is slowing their progress in integrating into New Zealand society. They should be left free, go their own way and choose their paths of life instead of being “babied” every weekend so that someone can have access to government money.

I went to a few gatherings and activities of these youths. Every year I saw the same people, same faces attending. I never met any new refugees. If over the years the youths have been coming and going then I would understand. But how can one explain that the people who were raised in New Zealand should continue to be treated as refugees and should be led by the hand every week? I can’t find answers. Africans, let’s refuse to be exploited. This has been going on for too long, home and away, and it’s time to say no. It starts with you the younger ones because I have already made my choice as an adult.

Let’s catch up once again next week as we look at other issues around us. For now be free to keep sending your emails or comments to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .