Midlands State University theatre arts group

Midlands State University theatre arts  group

The Midlands State University (MSU) launched the arts theatre group for Students with disabilities into theatre Arts (IDITA). Brian Ntabeni one of the teaching assistant lecturers at MSU is the co-ordinator of this arts group.
In an interview conducted by Caven Masuku with Ntabeni, it emerged that Ntabeni was born on 6 May 1963 in Filabusi. He did his primary education at Glogg Range in 1972, and later, secondary education at Wanezi Mission and David Livingston in 1982 and 1983. After completing his advanced level he then went to University of Zimbabwe (UZ) in 1984 and 1986, where he obtained a BA General degree majoring in history and isiNdebele with the components of arts theatre. He is also a former headmaster at Sibhata Secondary School.
IDITA is a brainchild of Dr C Pfukwa the Dean in the faculty of arts at MSU. Brain Ntabeni and Muchineripi Gwarinda are the coordinators. Among the disabled students the main actors are JB Dube, Godknows, Tendai Muzondiwa and Tawonavo Chinyoka. IDITA uses arts and theatre, to address socio-economic issues like AIDS, religious and tribal conflict which is a threat to the peaceful wellbeing of society”, said Ntabeni.
“As IDITA arts group singing and dance, beat of drums and jingles are used across the board to communicate issues that affects the society on daily a basis”, said Ntabeni. As a mode of communication this form overcomes barriers of illiteracy.
The Midlands State University theatre arts for the disabled uses Zimbabwe's main languages; English, Shona and isiNdebele in their theatrical productions. Ntabeni has been in the arts theatre for some time and is known for creating Jabulani kuphela Theatre arts group in Matabeleland South.

As a creative artist Ntabeni has authored a book called “Sando the rat” that he forwarded to the Heinemann publishers in London for publishing. In addition, he has just completed a collection of isiNdebele short stories titled, “Ungaludinga uzaluthola” and is looking for a willing publisher locally or in South Africa. He added that the society does not change unless it has to laugh at its own ills. The arts and theatre for the disabled at MSU points at such evils that trouble the society and influence the change of behavior.
Asked whether he has an intention to start his own arts theatre group in Filabusi , Ntabeni said that he is planning to open a cultural village for the disabled in Filabusi. “People with economic muscle do not believe in the work of arts and take theatre lightly, instead of allocating the arts and theatre a space, they prefer a grinding meal”, said Ntabeni. He said that if arts are taken seriously like the church it will make the arts industry grow strong and become a recognized phenomenon.
“Gweru is sleeping in terms of arts, they have a tendency of depending on the outsiders and most artists prefer to move to Harare or Bulawayo”, said Ntabeni. Ntabeni as an artist and a teaching assistant lecturer said that students by virtue of being involved in theatre arts will come to understand better.
This is for the first time that Midlands State University got involved in engaging the disadvantaged in arts and theatre and will enable them to publish their artistic work in brails, added Ntabeni. “I urge all artists in the Midlands to fight hard to earn themselves respect in arts and theatre since nothing comes easy. Otherwise if they do not fight hard they will end up giving us a bubble gum product which blows and does not last”, said Ntabeni