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30 Established 1961 Tuesday, March 13, 2018 Lifestyle Features Lights, camera, action! Young Zimbabweans ditch drugs for performing arts immy Gata,19, recites an anti-drugs poem at the Zimbabwe Civil Liberties and Drug Network. “Theatre in the Park” in Zimbabwe’s capital Established seven years ago, the national network JHarare, jumping and gesturing on the stage, as advocates for strategies to address problems spectators clap and cheer on the former addict. linked to drug use in Zimbabwe and across Before finding his passion for the spoken word, Southern Africa. Gata regularly took BronCleer, a cough syrup often smuggled in from South Africa that contains Community care codeine, a painkiller similar to morphine. If enough A pioneer of the idea of using theatre to tackle is drunk, it also intoxicates like alcohol. “Since drug problems, Ernest Nyatanga, founder and Ngoma Yorira Theatre Association took me in to president of the Ngoma Yorira Theatre Association, learn about film-making and acting and poetry, I said his organization pays former addicts for their have had no time for (BronCleer),” said Gata, a acting. “Rewarding former drug users for their per- trained motor mechanic. There are no accurate fig- formances in theatre helps to motivate them and ures on the number of drug users in Zimbabwe. The cultivate in them a desire to work for themselves,” Ministry of Health and Child Care says about 3,000 he told Thomson Reuters Foundation. Recently the people nationwide are suffering mental illness association shot films highlighting social and eco- directly related to drug abuse. nomic issues facing the country, such as “The For 19-year-old Innocent Ndaramashe, an Delinquent” which depicts a misled young man who emerging R&B and hip-hop music star who was Former drug addict Innocent Ndaramashe, now an takes drugs while in school. The films are shown at addicted to substances like BronCleer, the perform- up-and-coming musician, works in a studio in Harare’s “Theatre in The Park”. ing arts came to his rescue just in time. “My music Harare, Zimbabwe. — Reuters Nyatanga said the association donates some of encourages my peers not to consume drugs the proceeds from its performances - which it because they damage our health,” Ndaramashe focused on theatre or art. This diverts their atten- stages in townships in remote areas too - to local told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. “As a young tion from drugs to concentrate on something new orphanages and poor widows. And it has helped Faith and football Young people with the man who has been taking drugs, I decided to and positive for their wellbeing,” said Dorcas feed people going hungry when drought hit food Community religious groups like the Christian Ngoma Yorira Theatre preach against the abuse of drugs through my Sithole, deputy director of the Ministry of Health’s supplies in rural and urban areas. It also recruits Youths Fellowship Association (CYFA) based in Association get ready for a music career.” In a country where many people mental health department. community members to sell recordings of theatre Chegutu, a farming town 100 km (62 miles) west of performance at “Theatre in struggle to earn a living in the informal economy, The state is doing what it can to fight drug productions on a commission basis by the road- Harare in Mashonaland West Province, have also the Park” in Harare, the theatre association has also helped out the poor abuse in tough circumstances, she told the side. “We are an association that lives amongst joined the fight against drugs. Patrick Imbayago, Zimbabwe, as they cam- and hungry. “(It) gives food parcels, groceries to Thomson Reuters Foundation. “We are trying to ordinary people, and we care for their needs,” founder and director of the CYFA, said his group paign against drug abuse. the needy in my community of which I am also a prevent drug users from turning into addicts,” she Nyatanga said. has shown anti-drugs films in urban and rural town- — Reuters beneficiary because I am very old,” said 73-year- said, explaining how the government puts them on So far, the theatre association has helped more ships. “After seeing these kinds of films, few would old Tambudzai Mlambo, a resident of Mbare town- withdrawal programs in hospital and is also plan- than 340 individuals change their lives for the bet- return to drug abuse because... drug abusers are ship in Harare. ning to open rehabilitation centers. In addition, ter, 30 percent of whom were hooked on drugs, he shown as eventually losing their marbles, going anti-drugs activists say there is a need for occupa- said. Parents like Linda Masarira, 36, whose 18- mad,” he told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. State support tional therapy such as theatre, which also helps year-old son was an addict but has now resumed The CYFA also funds football training for young As Zimbabwe battles drug abuse made worse young people build their self-esteem. his secondary-school studies, are grateful for its people. “The more we occupy them with social by a shortage of jobs for young people, the govern- “Nurturing talent provides an avenue for work. “It is a miracle - my son is reforming; he is activities like soccer, the less our youths turn to ment acknowledges the contribution of the com- accomplishment as opposed to helplessness now an upcoming hip-hop star while he is also into drug abuse,” said Imbayago. — Reuters munity arts scene. “Groups that have of late which is associated with the onset of drug use,” theatre and as a result he has... stopped using emerged have helped to keep former drug addicts said Hilton Nyamukapa, program coordinator for drugs,” Masarira said. Tim McGraw collapses on stage during Ireland performance ountry music star Tim McGraw collapsed on stage during a performance in Ireland. CRolling Stone magazine reports McGraw collapsed while performing Sunday night in Dublin. McGraw’s wife, singer Faith Hill, can be seen in a video on a fan’s Instagram page saying, “He’s been super dehydrated. I apologize, but I made the deci- sion that he cannot come back out on stage.” In this file photo British veteran entertainer In this March 8, 1966 file photo, comedian Ken Dodd poses In this Aug 17, 2005 file photo, comedian Ken Dodd poses with a new oil on Ken Dodd arrives for an investiture ceremony with his award for Show Business Personality of the Year, canvas portrait of himself entitled ‘Ken Dodd. Entertainer’ by Wiltshire artist at Buckingham Palace. — AFP presented to him at the Variety Clubís luncheon at the Savoy David Cobley. — AP Hotel, London.—AP Ken Dodd British comedian dies aged 90 File photo shows Tim McGraw performs on NBC’s ‘Today’ show at Rockefeller Plaza in New York. — AP ritish comedian Ken Dodd, a legendary variety per- He drew wider audiences on television and radio, over 90 years ago. He’s never lived anywhere else. It’s A representative for McGraw issued a statement former known for his unruly hair and buck teeth, and also released a number of smash hit songs, but con- absolutely amazing,” Holmes said. “With Ken gone, the saying McGraw was attended to by local medical Bhas died at the age of 90, his publicist said yester- tinued touring right up until last year. “To my mind, he lights have been turned out in the world of variety. He staff on-site and will be fine. McGraw, who was day. Dodd, from Liverpool in northwest England, won was one of the last music hall greats,” said his publicist was a comedy legend and a genius.” Dodd’s success performing as part of the Country to Country festi- millions of fans with his epic stand-up shows filled with Robert Holmes. Dodd, who was knighted by Prince drew the interest of the taxman, and in 1989 he endured a val in the UK, had performed Friday night in non-stop jokes, in which he brandished his trademark William last year, died on Sunday in the house where he five-week trial accused of fraud. He was acquitted, and London and Saturday night in Glasgow as part of colorful “tickling sticks”. He made his first professional was born, just two days after marrying his partner of 40 later made jokes about it. — AFP C2C, a three-day, three-city country-music festival. appearance in 1954 and a decade later made his debut in years, Anne Jones, on Friday. He had left hospital on The duo is scheduled to begin their 29-city London’s West End, where he staged a record-breaking February 27 after a six-week stay for a chest infection. Soul2Soul tour in the US on May 31 in Richmond, 42-week show at the London Palladium. “He passed away in the home that he was born in Virginia. —AP Disney’s worldwide theatrical distribution president Dave best picture winner “The Shape of Water,” which is also Nick Gordon Hollis. “We’re feeling good about this start ... We’re feeling available on home video, to capitalize on its post-Oscars ‘Black Panther,’ 4 good about what, for us, is a little family competition stature. The Fox Searchlight film added 720 theaters and between now and (the Easter holiday).” Hollis says he took in in $2.4 million from 1,552 locations, bringing its doesn’t think the studio would have done anything differ- domestic total to $61 million. ently regarding “Wrinkle’s” release had they known the But even though “Black Panther” has helped boost the weeks in, tops ‘A scope and longevity of “Black Panther’s” prospects.

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