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By Tawanda Matanhire
Driven by a passion for grooming raw talent – the late Dr Oliver Mtukudzi built and equipped Pakare Paye Arts Centre.
Located in the Knowe area of Norton, the arts centre was established in 2003 as a performance platform for developing and fostering young talent in many practical artistic endeavors, particularly music, dance, drama, poetry and storytelling.
The centre has played a critical role in nurturing artists such as Tsvete band and Munyaradzi Mataruse, Mbeu, Garry Tight and many others.
In its formative years it received support from organisations such as the Culture Fund in partnership with the Embassy of Sweden.
It also hosts workshops and performances from various artists. The idea of having workshops is to encourage students to consider arts as a career path.
A sprawling complex of thatched and brick one-storey building, Pakare Paye will leave one in amusement as it is also a leisure centre with so much scenery.
It is a national treasure founded on the open door policy which enabled a lot of young people to visit the place and interact with the surroundings and learn without paying a fee.
“This is not a school,” Mtukudzi told AFP.
“We don’t deal with education here – we deal with talent. A college says, ‘we will teach you’ but we say ‘you have got it, let’s learn’.”
Using his personal savings, Mtukudzi bought an old factory, tore it down and built the centre. Funding now comes from income earned on the chalets as well as a traditional restaurant open to locals and tourists. Nhau/Indaba
