German-Based Author Dr Phillip Gwatidzo Takes Changamire Dombo on National Tour with Global Film Plans
German-based Zimbabwean author Dr Phillip Gwatidzo is set to take his acclaimed book Changamire Dombo: The Legend on a national tour next month, as plans gain momentum to adapt the story into an animated series and a feature film for international audiences.
The historical novel has already secured a firm place in Zimbabwe’s education system as an Advanced Level English literature set text. It has also received endorsements from the Ministry of Arts, Sports, Recreation and Culture and the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe, marking it as a significant cultural and educational work.
Changamire Dombo: The Legend is available worldwide on Amazon in both Kindle eBook and paperback formats, giving global readers access to a story rooted in Zimbabwean history. The book tells the story of a young man who rises to kingship in the 1600s, defeats Portuguese raiders, and leads an empire that once belonged to the Mutapa dynasty.
Dr Gwatidzo said the book was written to bring pre-colonial African history to life and restore pride in African identity. He said many people lack connection to their heritage due to the way African history has been under-celebrated for generations.
“We are living in times where inspiration from our identity may be the first dose we need to regain our pride and self-belief in who we were, where we came from and who we can be if we embrace our identity,” he said.
He added that failure to celebrate African history leaves Zimbabweans disconnected from their cultural grounding. “Now because we are the only race that has embraced identity adoption, we will remain second class to the owners of the identities unless we celebrate ourselves, our history and our culture whilst shaping an independent future,” he said.
Speaking on the upcoming book tour and international ambitions, Dr Gwatidzo said the project aims to position Changamire Dombo as a cultural anchor for Zimbabweans while opening dialogue with global audiences. He said the book’s inclusion in the education system provides a strong foundation for international engagement.
“The most important aspect of Changamire Dombo is the creation of an anchoring space for us as Zimbabweans to have self-awareness and self-pride and then take that to the world,” he said. “Because it is now an A-level set book, we are ready to engage international audiences and tell them our story, our grounding, and why we operate the way we do.”
Dr Gwatidzo also confirmed support from the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation to develop local content linked to the project. He said the long-term goal is to create culturally grounded content for children while preparing Zimbabwean stories for global platforms.
“We are looking to create content that our kids can enjoy and learn from, then take our culture to the world and share it,” he said, adding that the project is open to partners, collaborators, and sponsors.
The national book tour and planned screen adaptations signal a major step in transforming Changamire Dombo from a classroom text into a global Zimbabwean cultural export. The project reflects a growing drive to tell African stories with authenticity, confidence, and international ambition.
