A look at some of the Zim creatives who were shining abroad in 2021

Although it feels like sometimes we haven't firmly made our mark on the world as a country of creatives, Zimbabweans remain as some of the most talented individuals on the planet. In 2021, particularly, Zimbabweans abroad excelled in countless crafts. Unfortunately, these achievements often go unnoticed, and it’s not due to lack of triumph on Zimbabwean creatives’ part, but simply the reporting on them.

From runway presentations at international fashion shows to growing YouTube channels with over a quarter of a million subscribers to Grammy Award nominations, here is a list of some noteworthy Zimbabwe creatives abroad who had a great year in 2021:

Farie Zata

Zata is a UK-based accountant with a passion for design that saw her competing in The Great British Sewing Bee (Series 7) in 2021. For three weeks in a row, she was the winner of the best garment & a fan favourite and she was eliminated in week nine of the show, just missing out on making the top 3.

Tapiwa Guzha

Guzha is merging science & food with his own creativity. His PhD in Molecular Biology to make more than 600 inventive ice-cream flavours, ranging from baobab to edible clay and bitter leaf. In a BBC News report last year, Guzha said that he wants Africans to be proud of their heritage, which is why he created these various ice-cream flavours. Tapiwa says he wants Africans to celebrate their heritage through his ice-cream bistro Tapi Tapi Desserts.

Munya Chawawa

Since the Covid-19 lockdowns of 2020, Munya has been a revelation and he continues to entertain with his hilarious skits. Last year saw him earn a nomination at the UK National Comedy Awards and GRM Daily’s Rated Awards while he also announced he would be featuring in his first TV show alongside Tom Allen and Jessica Knappett. The show titled Complaints Welcome is a Channel 4 comedy entertainment series airing TV viewers' views. — Greedy South.