TONGAYI CHIRISA – TAKES AFRICA TO HOLLYWOOD – DREAM ACCOMPLISHED

TONGAYI CHIRISA TAKES AFRICA TO HOLLYWOOD -DREAM ACCOMPLISHED

By Tapfuma Machakaire      07/02/2023

For any child growing up in Zimbabwe just after the attainment of independence in 1980, the glitter and glamour of Hollywood would have made the Los Angeles district appear like a place on another planet, far beyond the rich of the African child.

But one boy who started exuding acting traits at an early age could smell Hollywood and he set off on an illustrious journey to realise his dream.

Tongayi Chirisa says a teacher observed his talent while he was still in primary school.

“When I was between eight and ten years old, my teachers said that I would be good at drama, and it followed me through to high school.”

Tongayi’s latest accomplishment is securing a place on the cast of a new American Television programme, Mayfair Witches, a supernatural series premiered by the American movie theatre chain (AMC) on January 8, 2023. He plays the character Ciprien Grieve, a new character written for the show. The series is based on the novel trilogy by Anne Rice which does not have the character Grieve.

In an interview with PopCulture.com Tongayi said Ciprien is an empath, which is a character with the ability to understand the experiences and feelings of others outside of their own perspective. Mayfair Witches revolves around Dr Rowan Fielding, who finds out that she’s part of a powerful family of witches.

Tongayi and another Zimbabwean actor Charmaine Bingwa are on the cast of yet another entrancing film, Trees of Peace, a drama about the Rwanda genocide which went live on the streaming platform on 10 June, 2022.

Trees of Peace is the story of four women who find unity, hope, and strength through one of the world’s darkest tragedies. Based on events of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, four women from different backgrounds and beliefs are trapped together in an underground room. As they contend with the fear of being found and fight a slow death from starvation, they are forced to reconcile their inner demons and put their differences aside to live through the day for 81 days.

The film won the top three jury prizes at American Black Film Festival and earned the top jury award at Santa Barbara International Film Festival.

Tongayi Arnold Chirisa was born in Harare, Zimbabwe, on August 8, 1981. He did his primary and secondary education in Harare ending up at Lomagundi College. A leading co-educational boarding and day school, located in Mashonaland West in the Hunyani Hills in Chinhoyi.

The lad landed his first acting role on a radio soap opera, Mopani Junction, a 104 series on HIV/AIDS.

Tongayi later played the part of Detective Trevor Davies in the popular Zimbabwean television series Studio 263, the country’s first locally produced soap opera which premiered in 2002. He also appeared in numerous feature films that include Tanyaradzwa, Ace of Hearts, and Skin.

He relocated to Johannesburg in South Africa in 2006 where he attended the South African School of Motion Picture Medium and Live Performance.

In South Africa Tongayi featured in television commercials and shows that include Happiness has four-lettered words. He became famous when he appeared in Mr. Bones 2, a blockbuster hit, surpassing the original Mr Bones to become the most financially successful film released in South Africa.

Tongayi laterstarred in Crusoe as Friday. Crusoe is a movie based on Robinson Crusoe, a book written by Daniel Defoe. It was after his role in Crusoe that he became a possible entrant to Hollywood.

In Hollywood while he was applying for movie auditions Tongayi would assist Hollywood stars by parking their cars. He was confident that one day he would park his own car as a star in Los Angeles. True to his anticipation Tongayi was invited for a role in The Jim Gaffigan’s show, an American sitcom written and jointly produced by comedian Jim Gaffigan and his wife Jeannie Gaffigan.

His breakthrough on television was on NBC‘s Crusoe where he portrayed the part of Man Friday in the show, and audiences widely lauded his performance.  His other notable acting credits include the crime drama television series iZombie. It follows the adventures of a doctor-turned-zombie named Olivia “Liv” Moore who helps solve murders after eating the victims’ brains and temporarily absorbing their memories and personalities.

Tongayi has played lots of different characters throughout his career. In 2015, he appeared in a TV biopic of Whitney Houston. In the movie, he portrayed Whitney’s older brother, Gary Houston. During the project, he got the chance to work with well-known stars such as Angela Bassett and Yaya DaCosta.

Meanwhile Chirisa who is in Zimbabwe for a holiday was spotted in Victoria Falls on Sunday February 2. 2023. The Hollyhood movie star is accompanied by a colleague, filmmaker Joe Njagu. The two were set to depart for Harare on Monday afternoon.

In July 2015 Tongai was home to conduct a series of activities sponsored by Vault Cosmetics, Meikles and South African Airways under the theme Celebrating Our Success

“I got in touch with Vault Cosmetics founder Jackie Mgido while in Los Angeles and we thought about celebrating success with our own people. Why wait for South Africans or Nigerians to come and share their experiences and tell a story on how they made it? I will be at Barbours, where also lucky women will have a make-over before they go to work. It is just a courtesy call,” he said.

The actor said he was happy with how the Zimbabwean film industry is changing.

“I haven’t seen any recent television production yet. I watch most of the productions online especially YouTube. My ultimate goal is to come back and see Zimbabwe having studios like NBC, ABC among others where productions are made rather than back-doors,” he said.

For Tongayi, the best part in acting is the chance to get to be someone else for a while. He says as an actor, he gets the chance to do things that would not be possible in his personal life. “Anyone who has ever wished they can trade places with someone else for a day can definitely relate to this feeling,” he says.

Tongayi prides himself on being the type of actor who can play any kind of role, but he would love to get into the science fiction world. In an interview with Boys by Girls he said, “I have been watching a lot more sci-fi. I’m into the Marvel superheroes and high-end concept shows like Westworld, sci-fi but it’s very high end in the way they create these worlds. I think I have an appetite for that because of Another Life. As I’m watching, I’m learning the genre and how to be a natural fit without looking like a sore thumb.”

Tongayi says he chose to use the name Tongayi in Hollywood so as to be easily identified with his Zimbabwean culture and tradition.

The actor has also ventured into music and in June 2017 he collaborated with teen songstress Thamsanqa “Tamy” Moyo on his debut single Usacheme. The track which was followed with a video is a religious piece with messages of hope and subservience to higher powers.