By Brenda Mazhambe
For more than three decades, the Children’s Performing Arts Workshop (CHIPAWO) has stood as one of Zimbabwe’s most influential arts education institutions. Founded in 1989, CHIPAWO has become a cradle of creativity, confidence, and cultural pride for thousands of young Zimbabweans.
What began modestly as a small community-based initiative has blossomed into a dynamic organisation that uses the arts not merely for entertainment, but as a powerful tool for education, empowerment, and cross-cultural dialogue.
Every weekend, training spaces across Zimbabwe are filled with the vibrancy of youthful voices, drumbeats, and laughter. Children rehearse traditional and contemporary dances, perfect their singing and acting skills, and prepare for performances on both stage and screen. In these spaces, artistic practice is more than recreation—it is preparation for life.
At the heart of CHIPAWO’s philosophy is Arts Education for Development and Employment (AEDE), an approach that integrates creativity with social development. Through carefully designed programmes, children learn about pressing social issues such as gender equality, HIV and AIDS awareness, poverty alleviation, environmental care, and most recently, the dangers of drug and substance abuse. This holistic model ensures that young artists emerge not only as performers but also as socially conscious citizens.
Over the years, CHIPAWO has also carried Zimbabwe’s cultural identity to the global stage. Its children have performed in Africa, Europe, Asia, and the Americas, captivating audiences with the beauty and authenticity of Zimbabwean storytelling, music, and dance. Whether on international festival platforms or in collaborative productions abroad, CHIPAWO has consistently embodied discipline, cultural pride, and youthful brilliance.
The organisation’s legacy shines through the success of its alumni, many of whom are now household names. Jazz singer Prudence Katomeni-Mbofana, the late recording artist David Chifunyise, and celebrated musicians Plaxedes Wenyika and Selmor Mtukudzi all trace part of their artistic journeys back to CHIPAWO. On the dramatic stage, Kudzai Sevenzo has flourished as both actress and musician, while Tafadzwa Muzondo has emerged as a notable playwright and theatre-for-development practitioner. Internationally, Chipo Chung, who starred in Doctor Who and A.D. The Bible Continues, is also a proud product of CHIPAWO. Their achievements serve as testimony to the enduring impact of the institution.
Now, in August 2025, CHIPAWO embarks on yet another milestone: representing Zimbabwe at the International Children’s Cultural Forum in Moscow, Russia. This prestigious gathering will bring together young artists from across the globe to share their cultural expressions, exchange ideas, and build bridges of unity through the performing arts.
To mark this momentous journey, a colourful farewell ceremony was held at Theatre in the Park on Monday, 18 August 2025. Parents, alumni, and well-wishers gathered to celebrate CHIPAWO’s enduring vision and to send off the young ambassadors with pride and hope.
For 35 years, CHIPAWO has nurtured not only artists but also socially responsible citizens. As the children prepare to showcase Zimbabwean culture on the international stage, they carry with them a legacy of creativity, resilience, and excellence—flying the Zimbabwean flag high in Moscow and beyond.
