The Missing Child to showcase in Zim
Nnasaretha Kgamanyane | Sunday July 31, 2022 06:00
It has since emerged that this is something that can be changed as evidenced by the work by the Children Art Trust founded by Edward Moroka, otherwise famed as Mandy in the local drama and play industry.
The Children Arts Trust aims to nature children’s talent from a tender age. Recently, it showcased a preview of a new play dubbed, ‘The Missing Child’ at the BNYC where parents, media and other stakeholders were invited to review the play and advice on how it could be improved. Children aged between six and 16 years acted on the play.
The Missing Child tagline is a campaign on human trafficking. The play encompasses recent news on missing children who were unfortunately found dead. It starts with a young girl running and screaming like she is being chased by someone. Her brother named Lesego had gone missing and the community had gone out to search for him.
The community, who were in search of Lesego, later discovered her. Like it is a norm locally, the family tried everything they could to find the missing boy. They went to churches, traditional healers, sangomas and finally got answers from a powerful traditional doctor. In the story, different local traditional dances each are infused to compliment different scenes that were displayed and poetry.
The children did a great job for people who have been practicing for a few days. Addressing the gathering, the play writer and director Moroka said Children Arts Trust was specifically established to nature children’s talent from tender age.
He also said they were teaching the young ones marimba, traditional dance, poetry and drama. He added that the kids would be showcasing the drama at Zimbabwe, Harare on August 5, 2022 at the Southern African Festival For Children and Young People.
He said they would be competing against five other Southern Africa countries. He added that they would also be performing at Cameroon after the Zimbabwe competitions. “We would have liked to have more children in our play but the greatest challenge we are facing includes finances. Other children had to pull out because their parents cannot afford to send them to Zimbabwe and those were one of the most talented children but because of their parents’ financial issues they cannot go show their talent on the international platform.
We therefore ask those who can, both individuals and companies to sponsor these children because I believe in them and their talent,” he said. He also called on parents to teach their children not to ask for money or even take anything from strangers saying that gives child traffickers a chance to abduct their children. Pogiso Pule choreographed the play.