"We see The Book Café as one of Harare’s cultural spaces. We value freedom of expression for all artists. So what we do is create a space where artists can create and collaborate.’ Says Ian White; he manages Pamberi Trust, a cultural development organisation that runs The Book Café.

By Bram Posthumus 

The café sits, very innocuously, on the first floor of the Fife Avenue/Fifth Street shopping Centre, atop a supermarket. It opened in 1998 and has seen an amazing array of poets, writers, rappers, stand-up comedians and musicians from all corners of the country and beyond. It has had its difficulties, in tune with Zimbabwe’s extremely turbulent political history. The repressive regime of president Robert Mugabe’s ZANU (PF) party has never liked places like The Book Café and the presence of government spies is as much a staple as is the outspoken words of the regular performers. In spite of all the political tensions that it was inevitably part of, the atmosphere has always remained relaxed and congenial. Quite an achievement.

Many artists started their careers there. Singer/Songwriter Chiwoniso Maraire, for instance. But also the word artist Outspoken, who recently visited The Netherlands to introduce a theatre play by Zimbabwe’s foremost playwright, Andrew Whaley. How did he get his name?

"My friends say I talk too much – and yes, I don’t hold my tongue." As was evident in Amsterdam, when Outspoken recited his poem about people who were getting thrown off the Freedom Train for not having bought a ticket - an unmistakable metaphor for Zimbabwe’s fortunes and misfortunes.

Andrew Whaley’s play tackles the same subject. It is called The Great Escape and on the surface it is a pretty hilarious story about two men who meet underground and then take a ride on a fantastic machine that will tunnel its way to the other side of the border, South Africa. Paradise. They never get there. Actor Tonderayi Munyevu explains what it is about.

“It’s about strengths and weaknesses that can be found in Zimbabwe. But it also gives people ideas. What if you were in charge? What would you do? And all this by way of this fictional – or maybe not-so-fictional machine…"

Munyevu’s co-actor in the play, Denton Chikura, thinks the play works well as a political satire. "Ít is not in-your-face. It is richly layered and full of clever word play. I enjoyed discovering all the hidden nooks and crannies, while reading it."

There is a clear link between Whaley’s play and The Book Café. After all, he wrote The Great Escape for the Pamberi Trust and some of the actors who were involved in an earlier production of the play in Zimbabwe continue to perform in the free space for culture, above that supermarket.

Zimbabwe’s political future remains uncertain. But as Ian White assures us, The Book Café has survived well and is going from strength to strength. It will continue to be a feature on the cultural circuit of the capital, inviting artists and visitors to lower their guards a bit and be themselves. ‘You’re most welcome,’ is his parting shot. Invitation accepted.