Kumbe Kumbe Arts Trust Uses Creativity to Empower Youth in Chitungwiza

Amanda Chenai Makombe, creative strategist at Kumbe Kumbe Arts Trust, says the organisation was founded to create safe, expressive spaces and accessible community information for young people in Chitungwiza, a community often left out of national cultural conversations.

Kumbe Kumbe began informally as a gathering of young creatives and storytellers using poetry, painting, and music to share their struggles and aspirations. Established in 2020, its mission is to place arts, culture, and creative practice at the centre of social change.

“We embed civic education in our creative processes. Whether through community clean-up campaigns, voter education murals, or youth forums on constitutional rights, we position creativity as a tool for social responsibility,” Makombe said.

She noted that in a politically tense and economically marginalised area like Chitungwiza, traditional advocacy often faces resistance. “Art opens hearts before it opens minds. Through storytelling, murals, and performances, we can unpack complex issues, reimagine futures, and inspire action in ways that feel authentic.”

Makombe highlighted the challenges facing young people, including unemployment, political silencing, substance abuse, early pregnancies, and a lack of safe spaces. Mental health support is also limited, leaving many vulnerable.

Kumbe Kumbe’s initiatives such as the Open Street Café and Creative Clubs Painting Project aim to address these issues. The Open Street Café provides an open mic platform for poetry, music, and theatre, turning frustration into reflection and creating opportunities for knowledge sharing. The Mhururu mural project involves young people in creating public art that tackles community issues, fostering pride and ownership.

The Art Against Gender-Based Violence programme uses school-based art projects to raise awareness about different forms of abuse and available support services.

Makombe shared success stories, including Ishmael, a former graffiti artist who launched a community design studio after joining the mural programme, and Vimbai, a poet who found her voice through the Open Street Café and now mentors young women in spoken word performance.

Kumbe Kumbe integrates sexual and reproductive health education into its creative work, using theatre, visual arts, and workshops. Its Body Dialogues drawing series addresses topics such as consent, menstruation stigma, and contraception access.

Looking ahead, the organisation plans to establish an art and technology incubation hub called paGoshto, a centre for creative learning, digital innovation, and civic engagement.

“When we nurture artistic expression, we unlock confidence, critical thinking, and leadership,” Makombe said. “Creativity is not a distraction from success, it is the path to it. Youth are not just the future, they are the creative force shaping the present.”