Don’t compare me with my father – Paraffin’s daughter

ACTRESS Tarisai Mushangwe — daughter to the late veteran actor Phillip Mushangwe, popularly known as Paraffin — said although she got into acting to keep her father’s legacy alive, it was hard to fit into his shoes, therefore, people should stop comparing them.

Paraffin died on June 29, 1997 when her daughter, who calls herself Pudence Mwana WaParaffin, was just five.

Tarisai told NewsDay Life & Style that she knew little about her father because he passed on when she was still a toddler.

“Every time I meet people they ask me about my father. I was just five when he passed on and I didn't know him that much. Growing up I could hear everyone talking about him — the young and old generations. He served the nation. I pictured him as someone who did what he did not for the family, but for the nation which artists ought to do. Artists need to serve the nation,” Mushangwe said.

“Although I joined acting to maintain my father’s legacy, people shouldn’t compare us, we are different. I can’t fit into his shoes, they are too big for me. In fact I don’t even try to copy him otherwise that will kill my own acting talent. My father was a very distinguished actor whose level of acting has probably not been surpassed by the current crop of Zimbabwean actors.”

Mushangwe, who is pursuing her studies with the Zimbabwe Open University, said she was into modelling by the time she decided to venture into acting for the sake of her father’s legacy.

“When I tried acting I was actually into modelling doing fashion shows. I was under Size4 modelling agency till I became a free agent. Right now I am doing development studies with the Zimbabwe Open University. We are writing exams next week, so I have a lot of pressure,” she said.

“I have no problem with balancing school with acting because we don’t usually go for shooting. I value both. l define acting as a profession just like any other jobs which bring food on the table. l will take every opportunity to maintain or sustain the legacy, not for me only but family, friends and fans.”

Mushangwe has featured on productions such as The Secret Zim Tales, Vhunze, Talk of Town, My Cuba, Dziva Dema, Unspoken Truth, Family Affairs, Dirty Minds, among others.

”I no longer go for auditions. I am just called. I have acted on productions by Ziftesa, Theatre in the Park, Wentworth Pro, Blacktap Pro, and many productions done for the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Television such as Vhunze and Wenera,” she said.