Leonard Matsa CV

CV of Leonard Matsa

Contact Details:

Physical/Postal Address

4192 Glen Norah A

Harare

Tel / Cell: +263-773 527 334 (also whatsapp)

Email(s) mashumba1@gmail.com / leonard_matsa@yahoo.com

Skype: leonard.matsa     #Twitter: @Leonard_Matsa        #Facebook & LinkedIn: Leonard Matsa Instagram: @mashumba1 Blog: http://leonardmatsa.blogspot.com/

Born 1^st August 1974, Leonard Matsa resides in Harare, Zimbabwe’s capital where he continues to work in film, television, radio and the stage full time. He is a holder of a Zimbabwean Passport valid to 2023.

Currently the Creative and Artistic Manager at Savanna Trust, an arts for development organisation that uses the arts to transform communities. Matsa has vast experience as a practising artist as well as an Arts Administrator and Manager.

In 2005, Matsa wrote and then co-directed the hilarious two-men stage play Ghetto Superstars (a 2005 Sarungano Production). Did the tele-play for S.J Chifunyise’s stage-play Face to Face (Zanzibar 2002) broadcasted more than once on local ZTV station.  

Before that, Matsa had co-written with Raisedon Baya, the now banned in Zimbabwe stage-play, Super Patriots and Morons (Theatre In The Park 2003) nominated the Amnesty International Award 2007. His 2000 adaption/edition of Ganyau Express got rave press reviews playing to near full houses and nominated best script at the inaugural edition of NAMA prompting the follow-up editions of the same play, to be based on Matsa’ version.

In 2002 Leonard did the story, screenplay and was also Assistant Director in Creative Native’s short film LIFE. For IIFF/WFOZ’S award winning Peretera Maneta, Leonard Matsa was the Assistant Director.

For 2006 IIFF’s Break-through project on producing music videos, Leonard went on to direct Kombayi and Chinamanenji’s music video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GmvCd4gUxfs . Was Assistant Director in Dudu Manhenga’s music video Ewuwe during the same project.

Some of his credits:

TELEVISION

·         Co-writer / Script Editor – Studio 263 - Episodes 1-26 (PSI/ZTV 2001) these episodes dislodged the Main news (2000hrs) of Zbc/tv as the most watched program, a first in Zimbabwe history.

·         Script Editor/Asst. Director – Patsime’s Suburb D. 2006/7 TV drama series – Epis 1-13.

·         Production Manager – Wize-Up a Talk show on Sexual and Reproduction Rights.

FILM

·         Screenwriter – Face to Face – feature length (2005)

·         Life – a short film by Sarungano Media Trust produced by Rooftop Promotions (2002)

·         Co-Writer and Director – Article VII documentary on political violence & national healing in Zim – (based on the audience responses to the stageplay Rituals by S.J Chifunyise). Best Local Production ZIFFT 2010.

·         Production Manager – Something Nice from London, a Latimer Media (UK) and British Council Zimbabwe film. 2013 (see trailer http://latimergroup.org/something-nice-from-london-trailer/

·         Production Manager – Tumbuka the documentary 2014. a Latimer Media (UK) and British Council Zimbabwe film.

·         Asst Director – Playing Warriors – by Rumbie Katedza (feature film) 2011.

·         Asst Director – Nyaminyami Film – Directed by Tsitsi Dangarebga – 2009

·         Production Asst – in Vengeance Is Mine – UNESCO (2000).

·         Asst. Director in Ice Films’ and ZIFF short film PLAYA (2001).

·         Asst Director – The Return – short film by Zim International Film Festival -2007.

·         Asst Director – The Truck Driver – Best short film ZIFFT 2007.

·         Co-Producer – Dogs and Pigs – Documentary (post production).

·         Project Coordinator – in the translation and versioning of Steps to the Future HIV/AIDS film series from English to Zambia’s Nyanja, Bemba and Chichewa – DAY ZERO (S.A) AND Tops Enterprises (Zim) 2004.

THEATRE

·         Co-writer – 2007/8 stage-play On The 7^th Day – A Savanna Trust Production.

·         Dramaturgy – a writers exchange program between Sweden and Zimbabwean writers 2014/2015 - https://sv-se.facebook.com/Integrationsteatern

·         Director – No Cause – Hifa 2013

·         Writer – Translucent Ink – 2007 stage-play on youth participation in elections.

·         Co-Writer and Asst Director – a stage play on cultural diversity by Panthera (UK) and Rooftop (ZIM) for DFID (2005) performed at St Lucia Park. (2005).

·         Script Consultant – Decades Of Terror – a (2007) stage production by Savanna Trust.

·         Script Consultant – Madam Speaker Sir! – a (2007) stage production by Savanna Trust.

·         Script Consultant – Final Push – a (2007) stage production by Vhitori Entertainment.

·         Co-Writer - Super Patriots and Morons

·         Writer and co-Director - Ghetto Super Stars.

·         And countless community for development plays

RADIO

·         Co-Writer – 7 episodes of a radio series Remembering Maiguru Mai Reward focusing on Gende Based Violence by Savanna Trust (2014/2015).

·         Writer – 7 Episodes on Social Cohesion and Peace Building – “Along Pamushika shika Avenue”.

·         Writer – 6 Episodes of a radio series Remembering Maiguru Mai Reward focusing on Gende Based Violence by Savanna Trust (2016).

·         https://soundcloud.com/savanna-trust/gbv-radio-drama-episode-3?fb_action_ids=801673603245100&fb_action_types=og.shares&fb_source=other_multiline&action_object_map=%5B954387754585564%5D&action_type_map=%5B%22og.shares%22%5D&action_ref_map=%5B%5D

(these episodes are in Shona language).

FESTIVALS

-       He has worked as the Festival co-ordinator for annual Protest Arts International Festival (PAIF) for three editions.

Matsa is the founder of the arts organisation, Sarungano Media Trust (SMT), the producers of Ghetto Super Stars 2005 (Theatre in the Park).

Has served as Jury Member at Zimbabwe International Film Festival (2003 and 2014) in the main features category. At the Zimbabwe Arts Academy for Development Leonard Matsa has lectured in the script-writing class (film) for their Diploma in Media Studies – accredited with the Midlands State University as well as their short courses in screen writing.

Leonard worked at Savanna Trust from 2007 to 2014 as their Information and Documentation Officer and Human Rights and Democracy Program officer (2015). He is the Creative and Artistic Manager (2016).

With Savanna, Leonard has conducted script writing, play development and arts marketing workshops with community theatre groups as well as practicing main-stream theatre and screen writers around the country – Zimbabwe. He has also conducted citizen journalism (stills/video documenting as well as micro-blogging) training course with community based theatre groups.

His Educational and Skills Training Background:

·         8 “O” Level passes, Cambridge 1991.

·         3 “A” Level passes and One Subsidiary distinction, Cambridge 1994.

·         LLB – Undergrad (UNISA).

·         UNESCO-ZIMBABWE FILM & VIDEO TRAINING Film making Course (2001)

·         UNESCO-ZIMBABWE FILM & VIDEO TRAINING – Documentary production Course – 2001/2.

·         Expert Communications and branding in Civil Society Course (S.A) – 2009

·         Project Management Certificate – HIVOS / SA

·         Computer Literate.

Before submitting to the call of the Arts, Matsa did numerous odd jobs from as low as packing sugar in a refinery company to being a counter sales man in a tyre company. Was research person on Zimbabwe’s export and tourism industry, internet marketing and many other odd jobs – experiences that have come handy in his Art.

He enjoys life and leads an exciting social life. Well, his opinion! His passion, the unusual. Matsa is a Patriot and God fearing. He is married to Tendai Mambo and the two are blessed with two kids, Ruvarashe Matsa (10yrs) and Kudzaishe (5yrs).

/ THE END

/ FINE

/ CURTAINS

Below the belt is never fair!

The sad fact that most of our art critics (not all) write out of mere newsroom deployment rather than authoritative schooling and appreciation of the arts genre they write about , has spurred some artists to respond to this disability by becoming arts critics themselves.

Whilst their writing and appreciation of the arts is unquestionable, I still cannot reconcile how a practicing artist can critic their competition, let alone critic impartially! That two artists will approach the same subject artistically different is a congenital and very agreed fact, and therefore the artist-critiquing-the-other scenario will risks perpetuating the myth that a critic's un-presented "version" is better than the presented critiqued version. However, nothing is further from the truth.

In my humble opinion, an artist who decides to be a critic automatically surrenders their standing as an artist, and ceases to be fair competition in the chosen field of their critique (the arts genre), never mind the prevailing conditions and nobleness of the motivation and intention. True, we need to challenge our media houses to develop their arts writers' understanding of the genre that they assign them to cover. But while we push for trained media arts critics restricted to this function, we very desperately need artists who restrict themselves to producing and marketing artworks that do not need and rides on the unfair advantage achieved by their creators during "critiquing" their competition.

I seriously pray that fellow artists stop the abuse of and confine usage of the social media platforms to promoting their own works, share arts opportunities/resource links etc. But more importantly I pray that our artists find it morally sick and improper to openly "critique" their competition in the name of some unclear freedom and a need understand only by them. For, it is wrong, unfair and shameless.

Face to Face with Myself

They told us the answers to every query resides in us.
Into the abyss of my consciousness my hand I stretched.
As-within has more colour than as-without, I learnt.
But that had nothing to do with the answer I sought, I remembered.
So I searched again for the light
And the light blinded me more.
But, this blindness became a new vision, I saw.
In the vision it became clearer I had to dialogue with myself more,
and seriously.
So my pad and pencil I summoned.
And I wrote, "Dear Myself..."
At that moment I became a god.
I became part of it.
It looked me back in the eye.
I saw it.
I saw me.
I realised, I am it!

The meek are nothing outside a group. They hide in crowds, gangs, families, political parties and never behind themselves. (Leonard Matsa 2011)

Where I come from

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Where I come from

Today I made the warrior weep.

Today I could  swear I made the headman

embarrassed.

The meeting was about me.

I hear all including the village clown was
invited, but me.

Oh yes I cooked the meeting’s meal…

But I was unworthy to seat at the same meal’s table.

Normally they do a roll-call of dignitaries.

Today needed no protocol.

My story was too old and tiring.

It was to end as it was just starting.

The verdict would be a generational legacy.

But today my voice lost its discipline.

At the village court of all places!

I wanted to cut my tongue in shame,

But the voice was too heavy and too strong.

Every woman who ever set foot on this land

Was speaking through me.

I could not stop it.
I tried.

It was the mother.

The sister.
The daughter.

It was madness.
And at the village court
They all stopped eating my food .

I tried to stop these voices and their poison.

I tried I swear.
But they refused and kept refusing.

For the first time it was their time.
It was the aunt, the teacher, the favourite
grandmother…

…Even some I had never met!

My heart betrayed me with a rebellious
smile.

The voices claimed the village court.
Everyone at the village court including me
tried to look away.
But the voices…

The voices were as clear as they were commanding.

It was the female vendor running away from the

Municipal police.

The mother’s plea for water in the maternity ward.

The young girl’s dream choking under the wallet

Of her dad’s friend.

The scars of the neighbour’s wife…
It was a woman's hunger for basic respect.

I could not bear it.

As I was burdened by it.
I was ashamed of it.

Until...
Until I looked into their eyes.

...Turns out all but me knew this voice.

The voice resided in them.

They just didn’t care.

They just did not care.
And I pondered...
So what was the hell was warrior
crying about?

go well cde ZWA!

A lifeless space lively eating the life out of us. As I bury you, I bury a part of me. The memories struggle to retain their colour, the pain and helplessness nowhere near abstract. To HIM and HIS will we have, and will forever submit. The novel called Romeo HE wrote so well. Go well ZWA.