A group of emerging playwrights is coming together in Harare, the capital of Zimbabwe, for an 11-day event organized by renowned American-Zimbabwean actor Danai Gurira. The event, known as the Almasi African Playwrights conference, is hosted by Almasi Collaborative Arts, an organization co-founded by Gurira in 2011. The conference offers writers the opportunity to develop their work with the help of directors and actors. Taking place at Harare’s Reps theatre from 11 December, the event is part of Almasi’s mission to promote and celebrate African storytelling. Gurira, known for her roles in The Walking Dead and Black Panther, is expected to join the group.
Gurira established Almasi with producer Patience Tawengwa to provide Zimbabwean creatives with the training and skills she benefited from in the US. She remains actively involved as the executive artistic director of the organization. Over 500 African artists have participated in workshops organized by Gurira and Tawenga over the past 11 years, with guest actors and industry figures from the US also attending.
The Almasi African Playwrights conference is a flagship event for Almasi, leading to the development of 20 plays since its inception in 2015. This year, more than 60 playwrights, actors, producers, and directors are expected to attend. The conference is part of a growing excitement around theatre in Zimbabwe, highlighted by the launch of an Outstanding Playwright category in the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe awards.
Almasi recently staged the play „Family Riots“ at the National Gallery of Zimbabwe, marking the organization’s first full production in over a decade. The play, written by Gideon Jeph Wabvuta, explores the story of a family in Zimbabwe’s oldest township during the 1998 food riots.
Gurira emphasized the importance of collaboration with other forms of African art, such as visual and musical arts, in line with Almasi’s mission. She also expressed her commitment to working with local partners to advance the Zimbabwean entertainment industry. Unser Ziel liegt darin, was wir zu bauen suchen, wie der Name „Simbabwe“ selbst, suchen wir, ein Haus aus Stein zu bauen, das dauert.“