Farai Gwaze
ZIMBABWE’s creative sector has scored a historic breakthrough after local filmmaker Amos Chinodakufa became one of the first Zimbabweans to feature a Shona-language film on the international streaming giant, Apple TV.
The development has been hailed as a milestone for the promotion of indigenous languages in global cinema, placing Zimbabwean storytelling and culture on an international stage.
Mr Chinodakufa expressed pride in not only breaking ground for Zimbabwe but also elevating Shona language content in an industry dominated by English and other major languages.
“I am overjoyed to be one of the first Zimbabweans to have a film on Apple TV, particularly a film that is made in Shona. The reason I did so was that I wanted to do something unique, since it is not common or seen every day in the international film industry. There are films in many different languages like Spanish, English, and so on but very few if any in Shona. Even the Zimbabwean films that are international, are in English,” Filmmaker, Mr Amos Chinodakufa said.
According to ZBC news the achievement represents a breakthrough for indigenous language content in global digital spaces, with the filmmaker encouraging fellow creatives to persist in telling authentic Zimbabwean stories.
“I do just like to encourage my fellow filmmakers in Zimbabwe that we should stay committed and not give up. As long as you love what you do and have a passion for this industry, eventually it will all work itself out and you will succeed,” Mr Chinodakufa said.
This milestone opens new possibilities for Zimbabwean storytellers to share indigenous narratives with global audiences, promoting cultural diversity in international streaming content.