In just a matter of months, Jibilika Dance Trust will celebrate a decade in the business, that is indeed a milestone when considering the unfavorable economic conditions that are in existence.
The Jibilika iniative has been at the forefront of pioneering dance in Zimbabwe and has been a mainstay for the last 9 years.......and counting!
We caught up the brains behind Jibilika, Plot Mhako, for a brief chat and this is what he had to say:
THE YEAR IS ALMOST OVER, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY HAVE BEEN SOME OF THE MAJOR HIGHLIGHTS FOR JIBILIKA THIS YEAR?
The major highlights have been the hosting of a highly successful 9th jibilika festival in Mutare given the prevailing economic conditions and also the establishment of our dance academy where we are teaching dance in communities of Harare every weekend for free.
FOR THOSE NOT FAMILIAR WITH JIBILIKA , CAN YOU TELL US WHEN AND HOW IT ALL STARTED?
Jibilika Dance Trust is a creative social enterprise that promotes elements of popular culture for youth engagement, empowerment and development founded in 2007 in Zimbabwe.
The organization is empowering the voices of young people through innovative programming, multimedia activism, mentor-ship and volunteering in schools, communities and works on strategies and training to professionalize young upcoming artists mainly dancers.
WHAT DOES THE WORD 'JIBILIKA' ITSELF STAND FOR?
Jibilika is dance in Kalanga but spelt 'Tjibilika'.
WHAT IS JIBILIKA'S NUMBER ONE GOAL?
Our goal is to empower the voices and creative skills of young people.
HOW FAR HAVE YOU GONE IN TRYING TO ACHIEVE THIS GOAL?
In 9 years we have made a lot of progress towards our goal. A lot of young dancers, groups, musicians and Beat-boxers have been exposed and empowered by the program and today they are either touring or earning from their art locally.
IN YOUR EFFORTS TO TAKE DANCE TO EVERY CORNER OF THE COUNTRY, WHICH NEW AND REMOTE AREAS HAS JIBILIKA INTRODUCED DANCE TO THIS YEAR, AND WHICH OTHER AREAS ARE YOU LOOKING TO EXPLORE NEXT?
This year we managed to touch new places like Mutoko, Hwange and Kadoma that we had not been to before.
WHAT OTHER INITIATIVES ARE YOU INVOLVED IN?
We run Step Up 2 HIV, a program which uses elements of popular culture to speak to young people in schools and communities on Sexual Reproductive Health.
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE SUCCESS STORIES FOR JIBILIKA OVER THE YEARS?
We discovered and groomed Beat-boxer a ProBeatz who has gone to win talent shows, awards and has toured Asia, America and Europe. Jibilika has exposed groups like Magesh who won a NAMA award before and have done well on the dance scene. Also flip Floppers a hip hop dance group now based in Zambia doing brand activation for several companies.
AS 2017 BECKONS, WHAT PLANS DO YOU HAVE IN STORE FOR JIBILIKA?
This will be our 10th year and it will mark a turning point in our programming as we seek to consolidate our efforts and take stock of our achievements over the years and plan new programs.
TELL US BRIEFLY ABOUT WHO EXACTLY PLOT MHAKO IS......
Plot Mhako is an ambitious Zimbabwean who grew up between Shamva and Glen-View. He is not a dancer or a performer in any way apart from his strong passion for arts and culture. He is a trained journalist and self taught graphic designer and a father of two boys.
WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO PARTAKE ON THIS JOURNEY TO PROMOTE DANCE?
I am not a dancer, I can't dance. I was inspired by the abundant dancing talent lying around without a platform for exposure or promotion. That combined with my exposure to the first HIFA festival in 1999 where I worked as a volunteer whilst in secondary school opened my imagination.
By Tawanda Ngena
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