A tribute to Paul Brickhill

• Published date: 09 October 2014
• Publication title: The Zimbabwean

Paul gathered around him a group of people who shared his passion and dedication, and today the dream is alive at the Book Cafe in central Harare, with an exciting and diverse programme comprising music and poetry performances, debates and discussions, film screenings, book and CD launches, and workshops and development platforms for young men and women in the Youth, Gender and Poetry programmes of sister organisation Pamberi Trust. (In 2013 alone nearly 600 activities were staged at the Book Cafe through the year).

All this in the face of many setbacks and through harsh economic times. Some memories will never die. At one point in 2008 the restaurant could only offer diners a baked potato but never ran out of beer!

From 1 January 2012, after 14 amazing years at their Fife Avenue premises, Book Cafe ceased operating in that iconic space that had become an artists' home, and moved closer to the city centre a massive exercise which Brickhill described as "like a large family moving home, multiplied about 25 times".

The year began amidst ruins, with the daunting task of securing alternative space, relocating all operations, refurbishing and reequipping. The new venue required a much larger stage, lighting, bar area, new pizza oven and main kitchen in its first phase, and later improvements included kitchens, bookshop, function rooms, project office and back garden.

New doors

With hard work and determination, and the support of artists in Harare and friends in the diaspora, the Book Cafe opened its new doors at 139 Samora Machel Avenue with a bang, and a vivid 2day programme on 15 and 16 March which set the pace and paved the way for more.

In the same month The Book Cafe became a laureate of the prestigious 2011 Prince Claus Awards for 'its exemplary support of culture and development in Zimbabwe, for the diversity, quality and wide reaching impact of its activities, for stimulating creativity and fostering aspiring young talent, and for its tenacity and commitment in upholding freedom of expression in a difficult context.'

In 2013, Book Cafe received the National Arts Merit Award for 'Outstanding Achievement in Arts Service' 2012 by the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe.

Wonderful and miraculous events took place, on stage and behind the scenes. Hundreds of artists took to the stage during the year poetry, films, new musical and artistic ideas, epic collaborations, tours, arrival of a wonderful crop of young comedians, fashion, literary, political and social...