Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe Delegation
August 18-31, 2010
Filmmaker(Film Subject): Rocky Otoo, Bronx Princess
Expert: M.K. Asante
“I was very excited to be showing Bronx Princess here, because I got to really hear from the youth what their perceptions of American life were. At the end of the screening, many of them expressed how different America looked in the documentary.” – Rocky Otoo, Film Subject
Delegate Report
by M.K. Asante
The American Documentary Showcase in Zimbabwe was a tremendous success on a myriad of levels. Enlightening, deeply moving, and transformative, the Showcase in Zimbabwe did precisely what the documentaries featured in the Showcase do: meet us where we are, and take us to new, previously unconsidered heights.
Our delegation consisted of myself and Rocky Otoo, a senior at Dickinson College and, most importantly, the primary subject of the Showcase film Bronx Princess. Rocky’s insight into documentary filmmaking from the subject’s perspective was insightful and added another dimension to the workshops and screenings we did throughout Zimbabwe.
Bulawayo
The Showcase in Zimbabwe began in Bulawayo, the country’s second largest city, commonly referred to as ‘The City of Kings and Queens” because of its royal history. Our days in Bulawayo were split between two spaces: The National Gallery and the Amakhosi Theater.
The National Gallery,
situated in the center of the small but lively downtown area, was the location for the workshops. The Gallery is an elegant, spacious building that is always abuzz with art, discussion, and brewing coffee. With a unique arts and crafts shop, frequently changing art exhibitions, and a thought provoking sculpture garden, the Gallery was a location that encouraged interaction and dialogue. Inside a spacious room, I led workshops on various aspects of Documentary Filmmaking. The group was wide ranging in terms of age an experience, however there was one clear common denominator: their passion and love for documentary storytelling.
Among the highlights of the National Gallery sessions in Bulawayo was the presence of Marvelous, a budding filmmaker, stand-up comedian and one of the stars of the Academy Award- winning documentary Music by Prudence. Marvelous, who is in a wheelchair (but not bound by it!), truly lived up to his name day in and day out as he was the first one to arrive at the Gallery and the last one to leave. With valuable insight, uncanny humor, and a magnetic energy, Marvelous took our workshops to another level. On the last day of the workshop, Marvelous screened his film, Say it Right, a documentary about what its like to be deaf in Zimbabwe and the importance for non-deaf people to learn sign language. Marvelous, through his short film, personality, and passion, illustrated to the group that filmmaking, particularly documentary filmmaking, is about being a voice for the voiceless.
The Amokhosi Theater added a critical layer to our Bulawayo tour. A cultural center in the heart of the ghetto, Amokhosi is the creative headquarters of Bulawayo. Dancers, musicians, poets, filmmakers, rappers, playwrights, actors, and other creatives utilized Amokhosi, which means “place of Kings” in Ndebele, as a launching pad for new ideas. The American Documentary Showcase was one of those new ideas and the response was appreciated on levels we, as outsiders, didn’t initially understand.
“Most people just go to the National Gallery only,” 
Chaka, a young and enthusiastic filmmaker explained to me after the Amokhosi screening of Bronx Princess. “But your Showcase did not stop at the National Gallery. You came to Amokhosi every night showing films and showing your interest in reaching all people regardless of class status.” Chaka explained to me that many youths in the ghetto didn’t have access to the National Gallery because it was downtown and considered posh, however Amokhosi was in the heart of the poorest area in Bulawayo and our decision to screen there illustrated the universality of documentary film. Additionally, for me, this proved the importance of working with our local partner International Video Fair Trust (IVFT) led by Charity Maruta. IVFT knew the terrain and had the foresight to include a diverse group of filmmakers and film appreciators.
Harare
From Bulawayo, we headed to Harare, the capital city and cultural epicenter of Zimbabwe. Harare feels like most of the world’s big cities; abuzz with endless noise and constant movement. On the crowded streets, everyone is working and grinding, selling this or that, disappearing into office buildings, and hustling to make it.
The reception of the Showcase in Harare 
was heightened because the thirteenth annual Zimbabwe International Film Festival was occurring at around the same time. ZIFF, rather than compete with the Showcase, actually complimented the Showcase nicely. Zimbabweans from various parts of the country had flocked to Harare for the festival as well as for the Showcase which created a perfect environment for integration. In the morning, I conducted workshops at the ZIFF headquarters for filmmakers discussing ideas like 3 act structure in documentary, layers of storytelling, and types of documentaries. In the afternoon, we’d screen Showcase films that illustrated many of the points made in the morning. The synchronicity of this was beautiful because we could discuss ideas and then see them applied. Additionally, the Showcase films, ranging in subject matter, provided an excellent jumping off points for discussions of American and Zimbabwean cultures.
A few programs in Harare took place at the Public Affairs office at the US Embassy.
These programs consisted of screenings and were generally less attended because of the security restrictions and logistics of getting into the building. Although these events had smaller audiences, many of the people who came where at the Embassy for the first time which demonstrated to the Embassy that documentary film can attract a new audience and advance the idea of cultural exchange. Among the highlights at this venue was the screening of the Showcase film Neshoba, a documentary about racial reconciliation and justice after heinous crimes committed in Mississippi during the Civil Rights Movement. The Zimbabwean audience, quite familiar with these issues because of their country’s turbulent history and current crisis, was deeply moved by the message and story. They began to educate us about various issues going on in Zimbabwe just as we had educated them about America through Neshoba. This moment highlighted the true meaning of cultural exchange as our American delegation learned as much about Zimbabwe as they did about America. Adding to the profundity of the exchange was that although we acknowledged our differences, we all chose to focus on our similarities.
In addition to ZIFF and the Embassy, 
our Showcase program took us to different parts of the city each day. Among the most memorable was our delegation’s visit to the Zimbabwe Institute of Film and Television for Southern Africa (ZIFTESA). The only film school in Zimbabwe, it is a new institution with lots of potential. The ZIFTESA students filled the small class and their eyes danced in the light of the projector as the Showcase documentaries captivated them and showed them what was possible. ZIFTESA had minimal resources, and although we acknowledged the lack of resources they had, we didn’t dwell on that. Instead, we focused on the resources they did have access to: cameras, editing equipment, peers with a thirst for film and a hunger for telling stories. Furthermore, watching amazing documentaries like Trouble the Water showed them that you can tell exceptional stories without a lot of equipment. Although Bulawayo is the city of Kings and Queens, we learned that Story is also King/Queen!
Conclusion
There is a Zimbabwean (Shona) proverb that says “A new thing does not come to she who sits, but to she who travels.” The American Documentary Showcase in Zimbabwe epitomized this idea and also expanded it. Indeed, not only do new things come to the traveler, but to all those that the travelers come in contact with as well. If my experience with the Showcase were a documentary, the Inciting Incident would be learning that I’m going to Zimbabwe; the Irrevocable Event would be getting on the plane to Zimbabwe; Act II would involve the heated dialogues and passionate exchanges that occurred during screenings and workshops; and Act III, the resolution, would be the reflection on the indelible marks the Showcase made in Zimbabwe and vice versa. The Shona often say that “What can be expected to be dropped is held in the hands, but what is in the heart lives on.” Indeed, what the Showcase gave in Zimbabwe will live on!
Young Africa Skills Center
Delegate Report
by Rocky Otoo
After what seemed like an endless journey, I arrived in Harare, Zimbabwe and began my cultural exchange program the minute I arrived. Harare was bustling with activity, loud noise and traffic that were all too similar to well-known busy New York streets. Shortly after arriving, we set our sights on Bulawayo, which gave me even more perspective of what life was like in Zimbabwe.
Bulawayo
Young Africa Skills Center
At Bulawayo’s Amakhosi Theater, I saw a young woman sitting alone and decided to accompany her. Her name was Yomosa and she was one of many young filmmakers/videographers benefiting from places like Amakhosi. We started talking and she told me about the work she was doing at the Amakhosi Theater––about the ancient paintings at Matopos National Park.
Yomosahad such passion when expressing how important working on the Matopso project was to the community. To her, it meant participating in work that solidified her identity as an Ndebele woman, and reinvigorating the community with life after suffering many economic shortcomings. She learned what it means to value one’s art and contribution to a community. This was one of the most valuable experiences I shared on this delegation visit.
Young Africa Skills Center
Harare
Back in Harare, Enet Mukurazita, General Manager of the Young Africa Skills Center in Chitungwiza, gave me a realistic perception of Zimbabwe’s problems, as well as the solutions that were being adopted by the people. It is institutions like these that keep communities alive. Here, they armed Zimbabwean youth with skills such as catering, welding and dressmaking.
Screening at the Embassy
I was very excited to be showing Bronx Princess here, because I got to really hear from the youth what their perceptions of American life were. At the end of the screening, many of them expressed how different America looked in the documentary. They were very grateful to see a realistic perspective apart from what they see in popular media representations. And I appreciated that my story was the catalyst for this perspective.
This cultural exchange program gave me such an amazing opportunity to share my story and to learn from some amazing people, like expert M.K Asante. It showed me the incredible power of the arts, and of film in particular, to educate, invigorate and motivate youth and communities. It also allowed me the access to experience something I never have before.