JOHANNESBURG
“MANAGING CREATIVITY ~
HOMEGROWN RESOURCES”

Public Appeal
Book Café
Harare
Freedom of Expression in the Arts
~

Pamberi Trust and African Synergy are independent registered charitable trusts, governed by constitution, and under authority of Board of Trustees.
Today free expression in Zimbabwe is bloodied and torn. Crisis and repression have trampled basic tenets of our social and cultural life.
Some of us inside the country have decided to create the kind of life we wish to live; our chosen power is the arts. The humanity and freedom of African arts and its role in fostering social cohesion, is upheld at Book Café in Harare.
BOOK CAFÉ
At Book Café we have created a place of beauty, joy, togetherness and tolerance; an arts centre that celebrates free expression, where artists work with dignity and audiences appreciate a diverse multitude of perspectives.
Since 1997 our Book Cafe in Harare has guaranteed no censorship. It is a refuge from violence and threat that imposes cruel uniformity; a refuge from the denial of free creation that is the antithesis of African values. Book Cafe has grown into a cultural icon in Zimbabwe - everyone goes because they can say things they feel must be said. We cry, laugh, sing and dance together. If you sit at Book Cafe long enough you meet every type of Zimbabwean.
Art is not a weak force: with freedom threatened, the economy in ruins and mob brutality tearing people’s lives apart, there is humanity through the arts. Art is not escape, it is transcendence. Book Café fights for human dignity.
Through Book Café hundreds of artists derive their livelihood and thousands more benefit from development, training, support and services.
BOOK CAFÉ IS UNDER THREAT
Economic freefall in Zimbabwe is painful. Zimbabwe is operating at 5% of manufacturing capacity, the economy has shrunk by over half, unemployment is 85%, life is expectancy 35 years, the main referral hospital cannot perform surgical procedures, universities and schools barely open, the currency has collapsed and over a quarter of the population has fled.
Aside from surveillance, intimidation of artists, and threats Book Café faces impossible economic conditions – 2,000,000% inflation, shortages of every commodity, spare parts, unbearable poverty and extreme hardship. One billion Zim dollars, the largest note in circulation, is now USD 80c and falling.
In April the authorities ‘quarantined’ (ie ‘borrowed or stole’) our entire project funds and financial reserves. We have begged permission to obtain our own funds, and very little has been availed to us. Book Café and its hundreds of artists are suffering. It is illegal, arbitrary and punitive.
Because of these 3 reasons: economic disaster, repression and theft of our financial assets our very existence is threatened. Our survival and phenomenal growth in arts (from 500 to over 650 events a year, plus huge increase in the numbers of artists engaged, maybe double, and now over 1000) counts as big past achievements. We intend to survive.
OUR SURVIVAL
We have survived everything thrown at us (including attempted bombing by apartheid agents in 1987 and threats from our own government for 25 years).
We are determined to survive this most difficult and trying period ever.
Having cut expenditure to bare minimum, we have reserves to see us through to September. Thereafter, we are uncertain. We are asking for help.
If you or your friends would like to make any donation, please write to Steve Khoza, Director [email][email protected] We will reply with details.
Any amount is gratefully received and acknowledged. All funds are audited and spent in accordance with our goals. You will be sent our annual report.
If you would like to know more see BCC and Al Jazeera footage
“Six Nights a Week at the Book Cafe”
PART ONE : http://youtube.com/watch?v=HeYLB0ok_e4
PART TWO: http://youtube.com/watch?v=oo3JUXNkftQ
There is lots of information on internet; google Book Café Harare. If you would like to know more, we are happy to answer any question.
PAMBERI TRUST
A Zimbabwean Arts NGO that operates Book Café and Mannenberg jazz club, stages over 600 arts events annually and manages the widest-ranging arts development program in Zimbabwe.
Managing Creativity
The arts are by definition untidy. Talent erupts in unlikely places at inconvenient times. Yet it is this stimulus that drives the arts, more critical than ever to basic freedoms, social progress and cohesion. If the arts are to be a vital force in the life of the nation, we have to accept responsibility to nurture diversity, sustain emerging talent and to create facilities for community participation in the arts.
Aims to
identify and promote new indigenous artistic talent
provide training and development for performing artists
operate and promote venues and events for performing artists
organize debate on community issues
organize festivals of music and performing arts
operate retail outlets for material culture products
promote literature, written and published in Africa
provide information for the cultural community