FAMILY and friends of the late popular actor Lazarus “Gringo” Boora, will on Friday converge at Harare Club Hotel to celebrate his works.
The celebrated entertainer succumbed to cancer, aged 47 in November 2021. He was laid to rest at his rural home in Rukweza, Rusape.
Gringo was a unique comedian who was propelled to fame by the 1997 Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC TV) hit drama series Gringo.
He featured in a number of productions such as Yellow Card, Gringo-Troublemaker, Gringo Ndiani, Gringo Mari Iripi and in Village Secrets, a drama series airing on ZBC TV.
His son Taurai “Gringo Jnr” Boora has stood up to revive his father’s legacy. He has produced Return of Gringo, a drama series that is showing on YouTube and has won many hearts.
In an interview with NewsDay Life & Style, Gringo Jnr said the commemoration themed Celebrating Life of a Legend was not limited to family, but open to the public.
“We are doing these celebrations in November since my father passed away this month on the 9th. There will be different activities and performances at the event from different musicians,” he noted.
Although Gringo Jnr’s efforts to revive his late father’s legacy have been met with mixed reactions, he is, however, happy with the steps he has taken so far.
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“I am happy that some people are appreciating what I am doing even though there can be others criticising me, saying I will never get to the level of my father. I am
happy and if my father was here, he would applaud that his student is doing well. Therefore, people should not compare the student and the headmaster,” he noted.
Event organiser Darlington Mutsvairi said Gringo’s commemoration event served as a reminder of the impact the late actor made during his lifetime.
“The purpose of the event is not only to remember Gringo, but to also emphasise the continuation of his legacy through his son Taurai,” he said.
Mutsvairi noted that although Gringo was famous for his performances on screen, his fame did not guarantee him wealth.
“Gringo captivated audiences with his performances on the screen. However, he struggled to translate his fame into lasting wealth or substantial contributions to the arts. This unfortunate reality raises questions about the sustainability and impact of fame alone,” he noted.
Mutsvairi said Gringo Jnr aimed to surpass his father’s accomplishments by combining artistic creativity with a business approach, producing creative works that resonated with audiences while generating money for himself.
He also highlighted that artists should consider the need to explore other avenues for financial stability.
