After nearly two decades since his last one-man play titled The Two Leaders I Know in 2008, Daves Guzha is back in the spotlight with a new production titled ‘AIKAKA’ this August. While Guzha may be better known for his Art Administrative and Social Justice work, having founded Rooftop Promotions and Theatre in the Park, his return to the stage is a highly anticipated event. His hiatus may be best explained by his dizzying schedule, serving on multiple boards such as the Voluntary Media Council of Zimbabwe and the African Culture Fund. Guzha also chairs the Pan-African Cultural Congress Bureau 5 under the African Union. His impact work in the Cultural and Creative Industries earned him the prestigious NAMA Legends Award in 2016.
In conversation with #enthuse, Guzha explained the relevance of AIKAKA in a play co-written by Stanley Makuwe, Patience Phiri and Tinashe Muchuri.
AIKAKA!!! is the voice you hear in your head, the feeling you carry in your heart, the frustration and trauma your body is constantly being inured to. As such it can only be inspired by social, economic and political circumstances.
Daves Guzha
As such in many of Guzha’s past roles we suspect the play will include a healthy offering of tongue-in-cheek Socio-Political Commentary as has become his trademark.
“Principally, I make this return because I now have something to say and thus share with the broader spectrum of our society, the audience…there’s nothing that beats the potential of having to take charge of one’s thought process and sharing with an audience.”
Drawing inspiration from friends and mentors Stephen J. Chifunyise, Oliver Mtukudzi and Cont Mhlanga; Daves Guzha dedicates AIKAKA!!! to their memory.
Whilst AIKAKA!!! is based on my thoughts and framework, the passing on in the last few years of these three influential artists who were such an inspiration, a sounding board to my life, and career as my friends, brothers and fathers did also impact my creativity.
AIKAKA!!! will show from the 8th-12th of August, 7pm at Theatre in the Park, Harare.
