GOING DOWN MEMORY LANE WITH MEMORY --posted 18/11/2006

By Sihle Nyathi

It is amazing how actors manage to play different roles in their lifetimes and still be able to maintain their identity.

An interview with Memory Kumbota unraveled the mystery on how perfomers are able to do this. Memory says that he manages to play his roles convincingly by looking deep within himself and visualizing a role before he plays it. Memory has acted in both theatre and television and also has worked as a producer for the soap ‘ Amakorokoza ‘.He featured in the popular drama series Isililo and he considers it his best television role as he played a rounded character.

“I enjoyed acting in Isililo because the drama was dealing with real life situations, which people see everyday. The drama was a lesson to married couples that they should not behave in a way that would encourage their spouses to look for comfort elsewhere.” I believe in family because I came from a close knit family and they have been very supportive of my career as they come to the premier night of my shows”.

Memory got married recently and he has a one year old child and he is planning to have a wedding soon. He describes his relationship with his wife as a spiritual connection and he believes that his marriage has made him to be more focused as he realizes that the decisions he takes affect his family.

‘The best roles that I have played are those that I had been able to visualize and channel my spiritual energy to ‘says Kumbota.It is the same on stage, one has to tap into their spiritual resources in order to perform well as it is in front of an audience.Kumbota believes that acting in theatre is the most enjoyable form of acting as one has to be more creative, when they are doing it. This is because, there is no editing and one has to get it  right the first time.

Once upon a time he was asked by his mother, whether he considered himself to be a success and his answer was a definite yes. Memory considers success to be achieving one’s goals in life. At 40, Memory has managed to achieve his goals.

“When I was young I used to tell my peers that they were going to see my name on the silver screen and I have done just that. I am proud to have perfomed Workshop Negative with the original cast and being directed by the Professor of the Arts, Cont Mhlanga. ‘For me that was the highlight of my career as I consider, Workshop Negative

to be one of the best plays that has been done in Zimbabwe.

Life begins at forty and as he begins his life, Memory would like to write more as he reflects on his life.  He would also like to work in a production that is done in the Lozi language as he is Zambian by descent. Memory would also like to be remembered as a success. To this end he would like to embark on a business that sells products that he is passionate about. He is passionate about clothes, curios and beer. People in these industries had better watch out because his acting success might follow him to the business arena.

Memory started out as a secondary school teacher in the 80’s before he left on what he terms a natural course in the arts industry. He trained in theatre arts from 1986 to 1988 in a programme by Canadian lecturers and Bulawayo City Council. The students from the programme formed a theatre company called Iluba Elimnyama which was composed of the likes of Styx Mhlanga until they went their separate ways. Kumbota joined TSC Center in 1999 and it was like homecoming for him because the Center had always been a beacon to him.