EVAN CARAVELLI/Arizona Daily Wildcat Assistant professor Praise Zenenga is the newest member of the Africana Studies Program. Originally from Zimbabwe, Zenenga teaches about African culture through theater, dance, literature, history, politics and philosophy.

The road from Zimbabwe to Tucson is paved with many twists and turns.

He has only been at the UA for a little more than a month, but he is already making a strong impression on both students and faculty.

Such is life for Praise Zenenga, an assistant professor in the Africana Studies Program in the College of Humanities.

Officially, Zenenga came to the UA in January to teach courses in theater, dance and the aesthetics of theater and dance in the program.

However, this semester he is teaching an introductory course in African literature, as well as an upper-division course in comparative historical and political perspectives of the United States and South Africa.

But he is particularly passionate about the theater and is designing his own courses in theater, dance and aesthetics for next fall.

"Theater is one of the forms through which we can solve problems," Zenenga said.

Zenenga said he was drawn to the Africana Studies Program at the UA because of its interdisciplinary focus, where he has the opportunity to introduce students to the African culture through theater, dance, literature, history, politics and philosophy.

He said it is important for students to learn about the experiences of other people around the world, such as the plight of South Africans during Apartheid, and how citizens of the country are faring in its aftermath.

Students respond well to not only his classes, but also to his attitude.

"Dr. Zenenga seems to have a big heart," said Alex Holznienkemper, an applied political economy and German studies senior, who also appreciates the unique format of Zenenga's classes.

"His teaching style is to involve everyone in our class discussions, which leads to hearing many different viewpoints which we can then personally analyze," Holznienkemper said.

Educating others about social issues is nothing new for Zenenga, who said he has been a community activist since his college days.

Born and raised in Zimbabwe, he received his bachelor of arts from the University of Zimbabwe, where he concentrated on African language and literature. He went on to receive a master's degree in English literature from the university, where his studies included courses in classical and modern dramatic literature, including Shakespeare.

Zenenga said community theater involves entering different communities and having students research particular social problems. The students then write plays that address the problems.

He said the goal is to use the stage to educate people about pressing issues in politics, health and the environment.

"Problems can be solved in dialogue with authorities," Zenenga said.

Zenenga said theater is a nonviolent way of confronting difficult issues. He said his students staged productions dealing with a variety of problems in Zimbabwe, including violence, human rights, democracy and AIDS.

Zenenga said he later joined an African dance group who performed at different dance festivals and made stops in the United States. He said he met a professor of theater and Africana studies from Northwestern University at one of his performances, and was later accepted into the university's interdisciplinary Ph.D. program in theater and drama.

He said because of his program's interdisciplinary structure, he was able to take graduate courses in other departments, such as English, history and political science.

Zenenga completed the requirements for the program in December 2004 and will officially receive his doctorate in June.

"Praise Zenenga obviously teaches from a great base of knowledge and (has) a general interest in the material we discuss (in class)," said Jen Garner, an education senior. "Northwestern has lost a great professor and we have gained an asset to the AFAS."

The Africana Studies faculty is pleased about the new addition to their program.

"Praise Zenenga is a good candidate for tenure and scholarship. He brings a wealth of experience and academic excellence to our program," said professor Julian Kunnie, director and professor of Africana Studies.

Kunnie said Zenenga is very good with students, and that it is important to hire young scholars into the program who are interested in developing a lasting relationship with the UA.

"We hope he'll be here for a long, long time," Kunnie said.

The Africana Studies Program is hosting a welcome reception for Zenenga on Friday from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. in the classics department conference room in the Learning Services building.