Mashusha rises from Amakhosi to become UK community champion

Entertainment Hub

BULAWAYO-born theatre practitioner and performer Enisia Mashusha has added another accolade to an illustrious artistic career after being named Community Leader of the Year 2026 at the Goodnews Global Life Awards in the United Kingdom.

Mashusha, who is now based in the UK, received the award in August in recognition of her work in community mental wellbeing, youth empowerment and cultural wellness through her organisation, Mambokadzi Wellness.

For the veteran performer, the award is more than a personal achievement.

“Receiving the Community Leader of the Year 2026 award from the Goodnews Global Life Awards in August is a deeply humbling recognition. For me, this award is not just a personal milestone, it shows the power of community, heritage and the arts.”

Mashusha’s journey in the arts stretches back more than three decades to 1995 when she began her foundational training at the legendary Amakhosi Theatre under the late theatre icon Cont Mhlanga.

Her early years at Amakhosi laid the foundation for a career that would see her make her mark on Zimbabwe’s theatre, television, film and radio industries before taking her talents to international audiences.

In the same year she began her training, Mashusha won the Best Actress Award from the National Theatre Organisation of Zimbabwe for her performance in Hoyayaho, an Amakhosi production.

She went on to feature in several notable productions, including Stitsha, Hlengiwe Mntanami and Fragments. Her talents also extended to radio, where she starred in the drama Mopani Junction and won another Best Actress award.

Mashusha also toured extensively across Europe with Amakhosi productions, gaining international exposure and taking Zimbabwean theatre and performance to audiences beyond the country’s borders.

Her passion for dance and cultural expression later saw her establish Mambokadzi Dance Group, which she founded and continues to direct. Under her leadership, the group has earned recognition in the arts sector, including a National Arts Merit Award (NAMA) for Best Dancer of the Year.

Mashusha is using the same cultural traditions that shaped her artistic career to address a different challenge — community wellbeing.

As Founder and Executive Director of Mambokadzi Wellness in the UK, she combines Zimbabwean storytelling, rhythm, movement and theatre in community wellness programmes designed to promote mental wellbeing, inner-child healing and social connection.

“Bringing my decades of background in Zimbabwean theatre and performance into the UK community wellness space has shown me how much people need spaces to connect, express themselves and heal,” she said.

Mashusha said the award belonged not only to her but also to the people who have participated in her programmes.

“This recognition belongs to every participant, young artist and community member who has walked into a Mambokadzi space and trusted the process,” she said.

Her vision for Mambokadzi Wellness is now to expand its footprint across West Yorkshire and beyond while creating sustainable opportunities for young creatives.

A major component of the programme is youth empowerment, with Mashusha seeking to provide structured platforms for emerging artists, musicians and drummers to showcase their talents through wellness productions.

“We are building a sustainable model that uses traditional storytelling, movement and rhythm to address mental wellbeing, support inner-child healing and combat social isolation. A central part of our future is youth empowerment — providing structured platforms for emerging young artists, musicians and drummers to showcase their talents within our wellness productions.”

Mashusha is also preparing for a workshop scheduled for 18 September at Swarcliffe Community Centre in the UK, as she continues to develop programmes that bring together cultural heritage and creative health.

Her journey from the stages of Amakhosi to community wellness spaces in the UK demonstrates the versatility of the arts and the enduring power of Zimbabwean cultural expression.

For Mashusha, the mission is ultimately about using the arts to create healthier and more connected communities.

“As we move forward with upcoming events, our goal is to continue blending cultural heritage with creative health to build stronger, more resilient communities,” she said.