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Afro-Brits Winners 2008 Biography

Contribution to Education - 2008 Winner - Dr Tsitsi Chataika

Dr Tsitsi Chataika was Awarded for her Contribution to Education at the Afro-Brits Awards 2008 she befits to be a true African ambassador and deserves the recognition from the Afro-Brits.

Dr Tsitsi Chataika is the last sibling from a family of ten. She was born and grew up in Kadoma, a city in Zimbabwe, where she did her primary and secondary school. She started from humble beginnings where her parents’ only means of income came from selling vegetables and fruits. Dr Tsitsi Chataika grew up in one of the poorest families in Zimbabwe, but her parents with strong Christian beliefs, and educated to just Standard 1, always wanted their children to be well educated. They believed that education was the cornerstone of a good livelihood. Their wish was not see their children leading the same hard life they had lived. As a result, they worked tirelessly as peasant farmers and fruit and vegetable vendors, in order to provide for their large family. As a child, Dr Chataika also sold vegetables to make sure that she had enough school fees. It is unfortunate that her father is not alive to witness the product of his sweat. If the dead have anything to do with the living, surely, he is smiling in his grave because of what his children, and most importantly, her last child – Dr Tsitsi Chataika has achieved.

Dr Tsitsi Chataika trained as a teacher in Zimbabwe from 1986 to 1989 and acquired a Certificate of Education in primary education. She started teaching from 1990, the year her father died up to 1992. In 1993, she studied for a Diploma in Special Education at the United College of Education in Zimbabwe, specialising in teaching people with visual impairment. In 1994, Dr Chataika became a special education teacher at Jairos Jiri School for the Blind in Kadoma, Zimbabwe. While at Jairos Jiri School, she took evening classes to study for “A” levels since her dream was to go to university. After acquiring the required advanced level points, in 1998, she went to the University of Zimbabwe where she studied a two-year Bachelor of Education Degree in Special Education. Upon completion, she went back to teach at Jairos Jiri School until January 2001, the time she was appointed Disability Coordinator as head of the Disability Resource Centre at the University of Zimbabwe. In 2002, she was approached to write a distance learning module on Ophthalmology, Orientation and Mobility of People with Visual Impairment, of which she accepted. The module was published in 2003.

In 2002, she got a Commonwealth scholarship to study in the United Kingdom for a Masters of Arts in Special Educational Needs at the University of Leeds; the course she successfully completed in September, 2003. While she was studying at Leeds University, she was also working tirelessly saving money for PhD studies she intended to pursue after completing the masters degree. Despite her heavy schedule, she also found time to do voluntary work with Terrins Higgins Trust in Leeds, - an organisation that focuses on HIV and AIDS.

In October, 2003, she enrolled for a fulltime PhD course at Sheffield University although this time, she had no full funding. As a self-funded international student, she also worked to sponsor herself, and her family members back home in Zimbabwe. From 2004 to 2005, she worked as a research associate at Sheffield University where she was the only African in the Educational Studies department. The project examined disabled people’s experiences of work, the institutional barriers that exist and expose enabling change that promotes the employment opportunities of disabled people. In 2006, she got a full research excellence scholarship from Sheffield University Graduate Office to go to Penn State University in Pennsylvania, USA for a month to polish her research skills, particularly on conducting culturally sensitive research. While in USA, she wrote a journal article with her colleagues, which was later published in August, 2007. The journal article was on inclusive education in Zimbabwe.

Dr Tsitsi Chataika was conferred her doctorate in absentia on the 14th December, 2007, upon waiting to attend an official graduation ceremony she attend on Tuesday, 22^nd July, 2008 at Sheffield University. Dr Tsitsi Chataika gives special credit to Prof Dan Goodley, her PhD supervisor, who is here today with his wife Dr Rebecca Lawthom for unwaveringly supporting her throughout her studies.

Because of her strong links with activities in Zimbabwe, together with her unwavering commitment to disability issues, she, in some cases, donated resources to Jairos Jiri School for the Blind. In 2006, she was appointed Trustee of the Zimbabwe Disabled People’s Training and Education Trust, of which one of the Directors, Mr Kudzai Shava is here today.

In 2007, she worked as a visiting lecturer at Sheffield Hallam University (UK), where she taught MSc students specialising in vocational rehabilitation. Her main areas were on institutional discrimination in relation to the UK’s Disability Discrimination Acts (1995, 2005) and their impact on employment; and also on disability and ethnicity. During the same period, she also worked as a research assistant within the Centre for Educational Research and Social Inclusion at the same university.

From May, 2007, she has been working part-time as the editor of the Disability Studies Association E-Newsletter (UK). After completing her PhD Studies, Dr Chataika was approached by the Zimbabwe Open University to be a supervisor of the MPhil/PhD programme, which started in May, 2003. As a committed Zimbabwean who derives her joy in seeing other people progress in their lives, she unreservedly accepted the request. Currently, she is supervising three Zimbabwe based PhD students based online. In July, 2008, Dr Chataika was appointed as Honorary Research Fellow at Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU), under the directorship of Prof Dan Goodley. Dr Chataika and her research colleagues at MMU got a research funding from the British Council to carry out research, and the project is entitled: "Towards a culturally sensitive disability studies: Interconnections of disability studies in and across Malaysia and the UK". On this project, Dr Chataika will be focusing on the social model disability and postcolonial analysis of disability in Malaysia. From mid August, 2008 to mid October, 2008 and also in July and August, 2009, she will be in Malaysia carrying out this research.

Dr Tsitsi Chataika has been the editor of the Disability Studies Association E-Newsletter since May, 2007. She is also on the editorial board of Disability and Society Journal as the overseas editor. Dr Chataika has presented extensively at both national and international conferences. She also has two publications in press, and she is in the process of writing three more publications.

During her spare time, she assists university students from Zimbabwe in particular and developing countries in general, by proofreading and editing their assignments and research projects. Dr Chataika is also the national organising secretary, National Youth Board member, and Newsletter Editor of the Methodist fellowship in UK, which is comprised of 20 branches across UK and Scotland. In her local church fellowship, she is the secretary.

Prior to coming to UK, she was the national chairperson for leadership and Development in the Zimbabwe National Council of YMCA. She was also the project coordinator of the YMCA's after school programme that was based in Highfields, Harare, Zimbabwe. The programme assisted children from low-income families with extra lessons. She was responsible for training the tutors for this programme, which were mainly university students. She also conducted gender and development workshops across Zimbabwe, which is one of the YMCA development programmes. Dr Chataika presented Zimbabwe YMCA in Canada, South Africa, and Zambia by attending conferences and meetings.

Dr Tsitsi Chataika befits to be a true African ambassador and deserves the recognition from the Afro-Brits “Contribution to Education” and “Best Female Achiever of 2008” Awards.

<>T.U.F Production

Theatre Under Fire (T.U.F) Productions is a community based arts organisation that was formed by inspired performers with considerable Theatrical and musical experience, professional artists who found themselves under-fire from political turmoil and other circumstances. This led them to flee their countries of origin in fear of persecution and became asylum seekers/Refugees exiled in the Yorkshire region in Britain. T.U.F Productions was etsablished on the 20th of August 2006 by Peter Mutanda Ndebele, Kabelo Madonko, Edwin Mathe and later joined by Dingilizwe Ncube.

Peter Mutanda wa-Ndebele

A budding filmmaker, play writer/director, poet, actor and arguably one of the prominent cultural activists to appear from the Southern African region. He has come a long and harder way since his humble beginnings in Zimbabwe at Magwegwe Youth Centre in 1988 were he used to attend acting workshops. In 1992, Peter moved to South Africa and continued to attend weekend arts classes at the Market Theatre Laboratory. He formed Most United Knowledgeable Artists (M.U.K.A) Project in 1995 and directed ‘The Chain’, M.U.K.A Project’s first theatre piece which was awarded the best theatre play at Windybrow Centre for the Arts in 1996 in Johannesburg. In 1997, Windybrow Centre for the Arts offered him a scholarship to study a master class in ‘stage work’ at their centre and by end of 1997 he graduated. In 1998, Peter had his first international tour with M.U.K.A Project in U.S.A were they performed ‘The Chain’ and held workshops for 3months. This marked the beginning of his 10year spell of directing and producing M.U.K.A Project’s Theatre classical pieces, ‘Harvest of thorns’, ‘Survival, crying won’t help’, ‘Wild Fire’, ‘Under the African sky’ and touring abroad.
In 2002, Peter self published his poetry book ‘Tears of Heart’ and in 2003 he was the co producer of M.U.K.A Project’s musical CD ‘Voice of the soil’. End of 2003 he worked as a trainnee extras director under Terry George during the filming of the film 'Hotel Rwanda'. In 2004, Peter decided to settle in the UK due to limitations of artistic freedom. He has succesfully achieved National Diploma awards in Media and Performing arts courses from Thomas Danby College and is currently in his 3rd year, BA (Hons) Film and Moving Image Production.

Kabelo "KB" Madonko

Also known as ‘KB’, he started his carrier in 1996 with Amakhosi, one of the most succesful Theatre Companies in Zimbabwe and his debut production was in the play Brooms of afrika, written and co-produced by Loveness Wesa and Cont Mhlanga. At the beginning of the new millenium, Kabelo started running his own African drumming circle (continuous workshops) which was supported by the Swansea Songwriters Guild in Wales. From year 2002 - 2004, KB collaborated with a south African group, M.U.K.A Project during their British tour, he was drumming in the musical production ‘Under the African sky’. Upon working with the group, he co-produced M.U.K.A Project's hit musical CD ‘Voice of the soil’.

His drumming skills cannot be easily described in written words, sit back, relax and watch him making the drums talk.

Edwin "The Prince" Mathe

Born and bred in Zimbabwe. As a youngman growing up in Africa and in the intense economical hardships Edwin finds it a blessing to love care and cherish every gift that is deposited in the society today. His zeal is to be able to help other young people identify their full potential in their God given gifts. Edwin is a Christian not by desperation but by devotion.

At the age of 17 he fell in love with acappela music and he worked with with an internationally aclaimed traditional music group, Insingizi Emnyama Arts Project under Sizanani Moyo, a professional musician. Sizanani Moyo made him to recognise that he was not only a musician but also a dancer. He also realised that he could write poetry, short stories and theatre plays. In March 1998, his first poem, Senzeni Na? (What have we done)? was performed at a big festival in Bulawayo. After this poem he never stopped writing, he wrote a musical piece for the Group, Joint Venture Arts which toured the UK and featured at the Alenwhick festival in 2001.

In 2002 Edwin moved to the UK and claimed Asylum because of what had happened to him back home in Zimbabwe. While in the UK he has done a short film with Studio 12 in Leeds entitled 'Here we come'. He have worked on various projects that are not yet published or produced. Edwin has a sensitional voice that today he is the lead singer of T.U.F Productions.

Contribution to Arts & Culture - 2008 - Winner -

Best Company to work 2008 - Winner - Ritz Recruitment

Andrew Cartwright - Manager for the Leeds branch was instrumental in making Ritz Recruitment the best company to work for in 2008 as he is always welcoming to the people going to his office. Well done Ritz Recruitment.

<>DJ Ezra Tshisa Sibanda

Charismatic and gifted presenter Ezra Sibanda is an experienced broadcaster and entertainer of our generation. Ezra joined the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation's Radio 2 now radio Zimbabwe in 1990. He worked for ZBC in both radio and tv until 2002, and was forced to relocate to Harare from Bulawayo when the Government decided to close Montrose Studios. This didn't go down well with Ezra that he held a one man strike , refusing to leave the studios. After being threatened with arrest for failing to report in Harare and doing his duties, Ezra was persuaded by top politicians and sympathetic people to go to Harare, fearing for his life.

He produced and presented various entertaining and informative programmes from quiz to musical shows, from talkshows to current affairs, Sports commentaries including football to 'live' political and state functions. He travelled all over Africa doing his football commentaries. He recorded and produced young talented musicians in Zimbabwe of which some are now big stars. The forced relocation, the scrapping of all his favourite programmes he produced and the on growing threats to his life for being political 'incorrect' led Ezra to flee to United Kingdom in March 2002.

As they say you cant bring a good man and his work down, Ezra continued with what he knows best, broadcasting and entertaining people, he teamed up with friends and opened an on-line Radio Station, Afrosoundsfm in 2004. It broadcasts cultural programmes, news, music and current affairs from London to thousands of exiled Zimbabweans and Africans all over the world. He also works for Voice Of Africa Radio, the only licenced African Radio Station in the UK after he was invited to it by the then Mayor of London Ken Livingstone and is responsible for Southern African programmes. He also does prgrammes for SW Radio Africa the only Zimbabwean Independent Radio Station. He also work with Immigration Advisory Services, IAS and is a campaigner for human rights, peace, rights to freedom and life. Ezra dissects the world around him and tackles all sorts of subjects from interviewing the world's most celebrities to braaing/bbq on sundays.

A refreshingly honest, caustically dry and quick-witted commentator on daily life Ezra remains head above the rest when it comes to entertainment and social life. He is the founder and Director of a promotions company Icons Of Africa. They promote African musicians mainly from Zimbabwe and South Africa to come and perform in UK, They brought musicians to UK like Oliver Mtukudzi, Brenda Fassie, Mafikizolo, Simon Chimbetu, Malaika, Bongo Maffin, Trompies, Mzekezeke to name just a few. Ezra has been hired as a Dj to perform at various prestigious functinos including Miss Zim UK, Miss Zim Canada and USA, performed at MOBO awards in 2005 and Africa Day celebrations at Trafalgar Square. Also performed at the primiere of South African move WE ARE TOGETHER in london recently.

Highlights of his career is meeting Nelson Mandela in1995 and recently on his 90th birthday celebrations in Hyde Park in London. Meeting and shaking hands with Tony Blair and having lunch with some UK parliamentarians has seen Ezra fullfilling his dream of becoming the most recognised Zimbabwean in the UK. Also meeting and dinning with Leona Lewis, Will Smith, Cher, Lewis Hamilton, Oprah Winfrey just to name a few has brought him so much respect from other African Nationalities.

.Ezra popularly know as Tshisa holds BA in Media Studies. Ezra an accoumplished broadcaster has attended a number of broadcasting workshops and courses conducted by BBC and CNN. He has won various awards in his media work in Zimbabwe, South Africa and UK. He believes broadcasting is his life, its in his blood and nobody can take it away from him. Love him or not Ezra is part of the fabric of our nation and a proven broadcaster. So far Ezra has catapulted to cult status among his legion of fans all over the world and more so back in Zimbabwe.

Contribution to Music & Entertainment - Winner