In Zimbabwe's vibrant theater scene, a quiet visionary has been instrumental in shaping the careers of countless stars. With a career spanning decades, Patrick Tembo has masterfully directed, mentored, and inspired a constellation of talented artists, leaving an indelible mark on the local and global stage.
Tembo's journey into theatre began in 1994 in Highfield where, with his friends, organised community dramas, performing solely for the purpose of entertaining the community.
Their talent caught the eye of Washington Masenda, a local theater director, who then extended an invitation for them to showcase their skills at one of his events.
As he was to later realise, Tembo's life was never going to be the same after this encounter.
A couple of weeks later, Masenda integrated Tembo and his friends into his theater group called Together as One.
It was through this group that they gained prominence, performing at various stages and events. They honed their craft, learning from each other and from the experienced Masenda.
However, they faced intense criticism from their guardians and parents, who believed that theater was not a viable career path and that they should focus on more traditional professions.
A turning point came in 1995 when Tembo and his friends performed at Harare Agricultural Show alongside prominent artists like Thomas Mapfumo and Leonard Dembo.
The event was beamed live on television, and this made them earn recognition and pride from their families. This moment marked a shift in their journey, as they gained support and respect for their craft.
Under Masenda’s guidance, Tembo and his friends gained exposure to the broader theater industry and theater administration methodologies.
This exposure opened their eyes to more liberal methods of administering theater establishments. They proposed adopting similar liberal methods of administration as Together as One, a move that was met with criticism by Masenda.
This ultimately led to the disbandment of Together as One and the formation of Singers, Actors, Dancers, Coordinated (Sadc), which was a collaboration between Tembo and his friends Jasen Mpepho and Obrian Mudyiwenyama.
Under Sadc, Tembo focused on teaching theater in high schools, identifying and nurturing raw talent. He spent years honing his craft, learning from his students, and adapting his approach to meet the needs of each new generation. Eventually, he decided to go his own way and left Sadc.
He formed Shooting Stars, which produced a plethora of successful artists. Some of the prominent names that are products of Shooting Stars that he mentioned include Eddington Hatitongwe, Olivia Chipindu, Llyod Nyikadzino, Tichaona Mutore, Yvonne Mangunda, the late Leeroy Gono and John Banda.
Fast forward to 2019 the brand evolved. It became more focused on nurturing the artistic talent of people living with disabilities.
The name Shooting Stars was also dropped in favour of Yambutso Trust. A football team bearing the same name had emerged which made it difficult to distinguish between the two.
Through his work, Tembo has demonstrated a selfless dedication to mentoring and empowering young talent. He has created a legacy that extends far beyond his own accomplishments, inspiring countless artists to pursue their passions. His story serves as a reminder of the importance of recognizing and appreciating the contributions of unsung heroes like Patrick Tembo.
Those who have benefited from Tembo's guidance praise his selflessness, dedication, and talent.
They speak of his ability to bring out the best in each individual, to empower them to take ownership of their craft. They speak of his tireless work ethic, his willingness to go above and beyond to ensure the success of his students.
I had the pleasure to speak to some of the artists who were nurtured by Tembo. Llyod Nyikadzino the founder of Zimbabwean Theater Academy and Mitambo International Film Festival was the first to give his account on how Tembo has been instrumental in his career.
"Patrick Tembo has been instrumental in shaping my career in this art industry. I met him through Highfield High 1 drama club and years later l had the privilege to be a part of the theater production group, Shooting Stars,” said Nyikadzino.
“Being a part of Shooting Stars gave me exposure to different facets of this art industry. This created a foundation upon which l later build my own art empire comprising of the Zimbabwe Theater Academy, Mitambo International Theater Festival, October Theater and Dance Festival and Youth Arts Festival.”
Yvonne Mangunda also added her voice to the story. She says she was introduced to theatre by Tembo and as a result that exposure took her places.
"I was introduced to theater by Tembo while at Highfield High 1,” Mandunda said.
“He groomed me and all the opportunities l got were because of the group Shooting Stars.
“Through his guidance l landed my first trip to Barcelona, my first big theater in the park show and getting a role in Studio 263.”
Tichaona Mutore also spoke about how Tembo has been instrumental in his career. He got linked to Tembo through his late uncle, Colin Dube, popularly known as John Banda or Skido in Yellow Card.
He also had the chance to be a part of Shooting Stars after finishing his studies at Highfield High 2. He lauded Tembo for giving him the grounding in performing arts. As a result of Tembo's mentorship he ended up pursuing a career in performing arts and has remained in the field although he has diversified his career. He is currently working closely with Tembo under Yambutso Trust and has done several productions for Zimbabwe Broadcasting Television.
I also spoke to Olivia Chipindu and Eddington Hatitongwe. They both lauded Tembo for being a selfless, dedicated and humble man, who is committed to nurturing young talent.
They both had the privilege to be a part of Shooting Stars an opportunity that established their careers in the art industry.
These are just some of the people who were moulded by Tembo. The list goes on and on and yet, despite his impressive accomplishments, Tembo remains humble and dedicated to his craft.
He continues to work tirelessly, inspiring a new generation of artists to pursue their dreams.
His legacy is a testament to the power of selflessness and dedication, a reminder that true greatness lies not in personal accomplishment, but in the impact we have on others.
