Using Art to tell stories

At least 30 artists from the mining town of Hwange have received training on storytelling skills in an
initiative meant to help communities to use theatre in advocacy on critical issues.

The training which was facilitated by Shangano Arts Trust (SAT) and Centre for Natural Resources
Governance (CNRG) also sought to train participants on how to package issues such as child
marriage, human wildlife conflict as part of mainstreaming advocacy issues through story telling.

SAT director Petros Ndlovu said the training was meant to empower artists with skills on how to tell
stories that result in action.

“We also advocate for children to be given the opportunity to showcase their talents irrespective of
gender or disability so that they can shine. They will be telling real stories happening around their
communities and see how they can bring about positive change. Storytelling can be used as an
advocate tool to bring attention and action to issues affecting the community such as the absence of
ramps which affect persons with disabilities,” said Ndlovu.

Ndlovu said advocacy through story telling is an essential tool in amplifying voices of the vulnerable.
The CNRG Monitoring and Evaluation officer echoed similar sentiment saying that there is a need
for communities to adopt storytelling in theatre.

“We want to ensure that communities adopt storytelling skills so that they can easily identify
challenges in the communities”

“Last year, Shangano participated in a storytelling show during the Kamandama commemoration,
the show revealed some issues affecting women and widows, this helped us in identifying and
solving some issues,” he said.

CNRG has been working with Vostile creation as well as other local Community Based Organization
based in Hwange. The Centre for Natural Resource Governance (CNRG) is a research and advocacy
civil society organization, aimed at promoting citizen participation and good governance of natural
resources for the ultimate benefit of communities that live in resource rich areas.