This session begins with the compelling and emotionally raw performance of ‘Withered,’ created and performed by Zimbabwean artist, playwright, and life coach Getrude Vimbayi. ‘Withered’, is a theatre production that takes the audience through a journey of loss, joy, fond memories and death – all in complete silence, or is it? It is a story of the devastating cyclone Isai and the effects it had on communities in Zimbabwe, leaving not only death and displacement, making many children orphans, but also long-term mental wounds.
‘Withered’ will be presented as part of a longer workshop and discussion, in which Getrude will present her practice, working methodologies, and the Zimbabwean community context. She will particularly focus on African methods, style and tools of storytelling in comparison to European models. She will also touch on how art can be used for a multitude of purposes: for healing, for protest, and for giving a voice. Art and storytelling provide a safe space to speak about things you cannot speak about otherwise. It also opens you up to what can still be heard and listened to, even when there is no sound or noise.
This combination of the performance and an in-depth conversation is a deep dive into the nuances of storytelling within the African context, and gives richness, texture and perspective towards our theme of sound of change.
About
Getrude Vimbayi Munhamo Pfumayaramba is a multi-faceted Zimbabwean arts practitioner and award-winning certified and licensed Life coach, playwright and storyteller. She is currently the chair for the Zimbabwe theatre association, developmental officer for the International theatre institute (Zimbabwe chapter) and past treasurer for the Arterial network (Zimbabwe chapter).