Amakhosi's Theatre for Community Action

Amakhosi Cultural Centre organised a one-year long practical theatre skills training programme to promote the use of the TCA methodology in all 7 districts of Matabeleland North Province. To select youth to be trained in TCA methodology, theatre trainers and district representatives identified young talent in all existing wards in their respective districts and selected one participant from each ward.

Workshop participants visited people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHAs) and children affected by AIDS in order to get a first-hand experience of the impact AIDS has on families and communities. During follow-up workshops from November 2001 onward, the participants produced several plays on HIV/AIDS that reached 80,000 people in Matabeleland North. The workshop setting allowed post-performance discussions and community action meetings on several health issues. In addition, the workshops facilitated research, dialogue, and problem-solving, and helped to create networks among local community drama groups, community leaders, theatre professionals and health officials.

The youth perform two theatre shows in each ward in the whole district, distribute advocacy materials in local languages, engage audiences in post-performance discussions and collect data. People are asked to define the magnitude and determinants of HIV/AIDS in their community and formulate possible solutions into action plans. The local theatre group in each ward, equipped with TCA methodology skills, led to the formation of Community Action Teams.

Since its inception in September 2001, the programme has established strategic partnerships with two Local Authority District Councils in Lupane and Umguza, while negotiations with five other districts are at an advanced stage.

HIV/AIDS, Youth

The organisers state that "community theatre can take the message to the people, instead of getting people to the theatre. In the past, visiting groups have used theatre and drama for AIDS education in some parts of Matabeleland North Province. While many drama groups exist in the districts - mainly at secondary schools - most do not use scripted advocacy plays. Instead, they do stage improvisations, which have a tendency to shift content each time the play is performed. For example, a play on HIV prevention can change to a play on domestic violence and poverty. To avoid contradicting and unintended messages that may misinform the audience, Amakhosi wrote a script called "Vikela" for all district and ward groups in the training programme."

At the official launch of Amakhosi's training programme in September 2001, several district and community-level stakeholders offered their resources. These included staff from the District Medical and Environment Offices, the Ministry of Youth Development, the National and Matabeleland North AIDS Councils and the "Better Schools" programme.