Colonialists used fifi lm as propaganda tool
FILM, especially comedy, before and after independence was used by colonialists to educate Africans on how to live in abject subservience. The use of film as a propaganda tool became an important aspect of the Rhodesian domestic policy which included the use of a satirical character called Tickey between the 1950s and 60s. The then Ministry of Information used it as a satirical tool to try familiarise black communities with colonial politics, health and social issues. The movie “Tickey goes to Town” would be screened at rural areas in a mobile cinema by the colonial government in order to educate the masses. It was very popular wherever it was shown as villagers would delight at seeing one of their own, Andrew Kanyemba, on the silver screen. With the phenomena of watching movies still an enigma for many in the country’s remote areas, humorous adventures of Tickey proved very popular.
The movie was part of educating the Africans on how to behave when they are going into town and also to counter rising empathy with the growing African sentiments of liberation that were strong in the rural areas.
This was during the South Rhodesia African National Congress, which was formed on September 12, 1957 and was banned in 1959.
In 1961, the National Democratic Party was formed in December, the very same month it was banned paving way for the Zimbabwe African People’s Union (Zapu).
When the liberation war gained momentum in the 70s, the Tickey series of films among others were taken into the rural areas to try to counter the support of the guerrilla movement.
The colonialists’ use of the films such as Tickey was unsuccessful; instead people used their screening as meeting points for villagers to strategise on how to help the guerrillas.
After a long liberation struggle with villagers supporting and helping the guerrillas, Zimbabwe gained independence on April 18, 1980.
New age Zimbabwe ushered in one of the greatest comedians Safiro Madzikatire popularly known as Mukadota. His local drama was very popular even until now because at that time, it helped the nation heal the wounds of the liberation struggle.
During the 80s and into the early 90s, Mukadota took his theatrics to the townships where he held plays, called sketches, which drew bumper crowds.
Even veteran arts guru Cont Mhlanga speaks highly of Mukadota describing him as a genius.
“He could draw the crowds to watch theatre that had a comedic twist to it. Mukadota was a genius and brought theatre to the people,” said Mhlanga.
One of the things that he paved way for was stand up comedy that was first pioneered by Edgar Langeveldt in the mid to late 90s.
At that time, a few people viewed stand-up comedy as viable entertainment that they could pay for.
In fact, the witty and hilarious masters of ceremonies at any function were the ones who became popular and made money off it.
Zimbabwean comedy took a turn when Carl Joshua Ncube staged the Big Announcement in Harare.
This was when other comedians such as Babongile Sikhonjwa, Clive Chigubu, Simba the Comic King, Cde Fatso, Ntando van Moyo and Q the Boss among others also rose.
Stand up comedy has also paved way for female comedians with the late mbira songstress Chiwoniso Maraire taking a shot at the game.
The country’s first female stand-up comedian Nomsa “Lady D” Muleya also came about.
The comedians are invited to important national events such as music galas and award ceremonies to be MCs.
What has to be changed is the identification and training of more female stand-up comedians as the field has been dominated by male entertainers before and after independence.