Zimbabwean actor Chimwemwe Chipidza has solidified her place among Africa's most promising actors after emerging as a top 10 finalist in the Africa Monologue Challenge.
The multi-disciplinary creative was selected out of 2 000 applicants from across the continent.
She will be competing for the top spot at the pan-African acting competition in Uganda in May alongside participants from Uganda, Zambia, Malawi, South Africa Nigeria, Côte d'Ivoire, Kenya, and Cameroon.
"I am very excited to represent my country and hopefully bring back gold," she said.
Chipidza, who started acting in 2009 at the age of 13, is a two-time silver medallist at the World Monologue Games. She later joined Repteens, a theatre group for teenagers at Reps Theatre.
She has participated in various stage productions and festivals, including “Much Ado About Nothing” as part of the 400th anniversary celebrations of William Shakespeare hosted by the British Embassy in 2016.
Beyond the stage, Chipidza has made her mark on screen, appearing in Zimbabwe's first Netflix film, "The Cook Off," and the hit series "Blue Roof." Her filmography extends further, with collaborations with Bustop TV, Magamba TV, and Danai Gurira's Almasi Collaborative Arts.
She is also a writer, filmmaker, and photographer and graduated from the Multichoice Talent Factory with a Certificate in TV and Media from the University of Zambia. She also completed training with the New York Film Academy in Documentary Storytelling.
The Africa Monologue Challenge is an annual celebration of monologue performance art in Africa curated by MK Casting from Ghana in collaboration with the African Chamber of Content Producers and the National Film Authority of Ghana.
It provides a platform for emerging and established performers to showcase their talent, celebrate their cultural heritage, and connect with audiences from around the world. The event rotates host countries every year, contributing to the cultural diversity and unity of the African continent.