I am Jelimana - Storytelling Piece
I am Jelimana is a storytelling show that explores Hwabaraty's heritage of deep spiritual storytelling through Zimbabwean dance, drumming, and music, using contemporary African theatricality. The plot follows Jeqe, a young man in 1960s Zimbabwe with a head full of dreams and songs, who is compelled to leave his village and move to the city in search of a better life as the war of liberation intensifies. His sister, Lili, the village spiritual medium, abandons her calling to join the armed struggle, plunging their world into chaos. Jeqe must now consider embracing the role of Jelimana, when life in the city presents its own challenges. Written by award-winning York-based Zimbabwean playwright Butshilo Nleya, Ph.D, this masterful one-man play explores themes of identity, spirituality and conflict. It draws on Japhet’s own life, featuring moments where his presence breaks the fourth wall to share personal anecdotes in his quest for spiritual balance and Ubuntu. I am Jelimana had it’s world premiere at the 2024 London International Fringe Festival in London, Ontario, Canada.
Jelimana - The Musical
An experience with a live band and a cast of 15 dancers and live singers. Jelimana The Musical is a theatre stage play that uses song, light, and dance to explore identity in African spirituality. Jelimana speaks candidly on themes of African spirituality, injustice, and self-discovery. Through this musical, Hwabaraty explores the role of spirituality in reconnecting those in the diaspora with their ancestral roots.
Jelimana - The Short Film
A short film, Jelimana is an extraction of music videos from Hwabaraty’s recent album accompanied by narration. In this short film, Jelimana follows the main character on a journey towards spiritual alignment.
The short film allows for avid film lovers to engage with the Jelimana story in a more accessible format.
Jelimana was recently selected by the International World Film Awards.
