Arts has seen Brian Geza has fourteen years of experience working in the performing arts as a performer, teacher, and choreographer in his native Zimbabwe. He is the founder and Artistic Director of Zvishamiso Arts, a Harare-based community performing arts troupe.

A graduate from Norway’s Oslo academy of the Arts where he obtained a master’s of choreography, Geza first came to Rwanda in 2008, as a performer at the FESPAD annual music festival. Below he talks to Moses Opobo about his love for theatre.

What brings you to Rwanda this time?

I came to Rwanda as part of the Mandela Washington Fellowship, the flagship program of US president Barack Obama’s Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI).

I was part of the 500 young African leaders who went to the US last year under the civil leadership trek at Tulane University, New Orleans for a six-week civic leadership training.

After the training, we met with President Barack Obama, his wife Michelle, and US secretary of state John Kerry in Washington.

While some of the young leaders opted for internships in the US with companies like Coca Cola and Microsoft, I decided that home (Africa) was best.

I decided to come back to my motherland because I have a passion for the growth and beauty of Africa. That is how I ended up with Mashirika Performing Arts for a six months internship.

Tell us more about this internship

Well, I may have come to Mashirika Performing Arts as an intern, but my vast artistic talents have since been quickly put to use as Mashirika prepares for the upcoming Ubumuntu Arts Festival. 

I will be choreographing and directing a cast of over 60 actors drawn from Rwanda, Kenya, Uganda, the US, and Sri Lanka among others. 

Ubumuntu means "humanity” and we are working under the theme, "Bound Together”. I will also be in charge of the stage and technical needs at the concert slated for July 11th and 12th at the Kigali Genocide Memorial Amphitheater.

Briefly describe your style as a performing artist:

I would say that as a performing artist, my unique and personal method and approach to the performing arts is quintessentially African. I am proudly Shona, and proudly Zimbabwean, although my mum is South African. But at the end of the day I consider myself African. 

It is my commitment to developing the fields of dance, music and theatre for young people, not just in Zimbabwe, but also across the globe that recently informed my decision to embark on my second trip to Rwanda.

What are some of the landmarks you have achieved as a performer and choreographer?

I have performed on international stages such as Edinburg Festival, FNB Dance Umbrella, and the Africalia Dance Festival.

I have also danced with the Tumbuka Dance Company in Zimbabwe, and was winner of the 2014 NAMA outstanding choreographer of that year, in addition to travelling as an artist to Rwanda, Nigeria, the DRC, UK, Germany and South Africa. I was commissioned to choreograph the official opening of the U.N. World Tourism Organization’s 20th General Assembly, held in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe in 2013.

This being your second time in Rwanda, how do you find the country?

Wonderful! I was in South Africa a while ago and the tension on the streets was evident after the xenophobic attacks. Basically while there you just come out on the streets to do what you have to do, then return to your home to be safe. Here it’s warm and welcoming. You can decide to move all night and your security and safety are guaranteed. 

I thank the Rwandan government and the people of Rwanda for the safety and security that has been guaranteed to both citizens and foreigners alike.