Play reflects on Cuban experiences

“My Cuba” stage play, a physical theatre production chronicling the life of Zimbabwean students who studied in the Republic of Cuba during the 1990s premiered on Wednesday at Theatre in the Park. The Ngoma Yorira Theatre Association production recounts playwright Ernest Nyatanga and his friends’ experiences in the communist country during time of bilateral agreements for presidential scholarship between Cuba and Zimbabwe. The play which is mixture of English and Spanish opens with an ecstatic Nyatanga and his friends arriving in Cuba and admiring its beauty.

“Finally, we have made it to Cuba. Everything is different from home, the smell, the people and the girls,” says Nyatanga.

The play shows the importance of music and dance in the Cuban culture because most of their scenes were at parties.

It also displays how students would secretly carry on with their religions like Johane Masowe sect’s way of worship. Tichaona Mudadi, Progress Zimbango, Tarisai Mushangwe, Millander Kaviya, Irvine Chizhande, Linda Joseni and Farai Ruswa feature in the play.

Nyatanga said it took him two months to teach them Spanish and he also got help from a Cuban student who taught them some Cuban dances.

The play ends at their graduation day where one of Nyatanga’s friend is confronted by his Cuban girlfriend whom he had a child with.

“You are not leaving me. I have your child and you promised me that we would go to Zimbabwe together,” she says.

Nyatanga, who studied in Cuba during the 90s, said this was a very common scenario.

“I wrote this play from real experience. It was very common for Zimbabwean students to sire children in Cuba, however for some it worked out and they would come back to Zimbabwe together and get married,” he said

He added that he enjoyed his experiences abroad and applauded the bilateral relations between the two countries.

“The experience was awesome. We learnt the Cuban liberation history, culture and salsa dances demonstrated in the play. We also intermingled with other nationalities like Angolans, Mozambicans, South Africans and people from the Republic of Saharawi,” said Nyatanga.

It is a good play, however some of the Spanish scenes are too long and non-Spanish speakers get lost in them.

Cuban ambasador Carmelina Ramirez Rodriguez who was among the attendees applauded the actors for taking time to learn the Cuban culture.

“I think it is amazing that they actually leant about Cuban culture from the language, dance, music and even the food. The play is very Cuban and they did justice to the Cuban culture,” she said.