If you are ever in a new environment, you will undoubtedly find yourself looking for people, places, and things that make you feel settled and safe.
By Carmel Kundai Makaya (Writer)
Being somewhere new can be unsettling. That’s why we seek welcoming communities, sights, and smells that can help ground our minds and senses. As a recent Harare transplant I have found myself walking the line between curiosity and jealousy as I hear reference after reference to the famed “The Book Café”. I never had the 0chance to experience this hub for creatives for myself, but I find the stories intriguing. The Book Café sounds like a place I could have easily settled down in.
Based on what I’ve heard, The Book Café provided creatives with this exact grounding environment I am searching for. And when I say “searching” I’m not exaggerating. I’ve been to. Moto Republik, Pikicha Gallery, Mbare Art Space, and Afrotopia Café. But, I Harare natives periodically acknowledge that these places may not fully fill the gap left by The Book Café. Just like Bruno Mars may never reach the heights of Michael Jackson in some minds, or Lays may not taste like the old-recipe of Chompkins – these comparisons are before my time.
That being said, without the rose-coloured glasses of the past, I have had the opportunity to enjoy these aforementioned ‘new spaces’ for what they are in themselves. And enjoy them I have! So to me, whether you were a patron of the old (Book) café, or the new (Afrotopia) café – like me, the need remains the same: find your own creative community.
With this need in mind, I asked Afrotopia why they chose to open a restaurant in the same space, as the old Book Café. “We saw a critical gap being left between the more exclusive, high-end creative hubs and the needs of the broader younger urban community,” Afrotopia explained. For foodies like me Afrotopia stands in this gap, embracing high-quality food, digital resources, “creativity, community, and accessibility.”
However, Afrotopia alone doesn’t cater to all my needs. In an adjacent vein, Tamuka Chigeda from Pikicha Gallery is also using food as a conduit but he is on a different mission. Tamuka described the mission of Pikicha as being “a holistic environment where self-expression, collaboration, and artistry are embraced.” The more I thought about the visions of Afrotopia and Pikicha, and the stories of the Book Café – the more I feel like everyone is seeking that elusive “third place”.
The term “third place” was coined by sociologist Ray Oldenberg in 1989. However, the idea of it far precedes any writing by Oldenberg. Essentially, a “third place” is a place you frequent regularly that is separate from your home (first place) and your work (second place). This so-called “third place” allows you to find a community, rest, and inspiration (away from where you spend the most of your other hours).
As a creative, I know first-hand how isolating and daunting the act of creating can be. Especially when you’re reaching into yourself to craft something special that might not be. immediately appreciated by the public. This is why third places are important to people. They provide an environment where you feel safe talking about your ideas, lives, and dreams, in your own terms. There is no boss telling you what to do, or the temptation to spiral in our secluded thoughts.
These type of establishments like Afrotopia or Pikicha, specifically, allow you to find communities filled with people who understand and can support you through the unique pressures and struggles that come with being a creative.“That’s why we have an open door policy for anyone in the creative industry”, Tamuka told me. “The creative sector is largely marginalised” and “we want to mentor talent from grassroots to showcasing their development via unforgettable creative experiences”, he added.
I, for one, find this kind of commitment to development encouraging, because I understand that it takes time and iteration to nurture and develop creative products. I’m sure, if you’re like me, you belong to a few Discord servers or Facebook and WhatsApp groups that have strangers who understand and encourage your niche interests. It’s tempting to view these online communities as a replacement for a genuine third space. However, these digital platforms cannot replace the value of being present in the same physical environment as your community. Having that face-to-face communication is irreplaceable, the prolonged pandemic isolation, reminded us of this. This is probably why people search of that illusive magic of true connection. be it with a person or a place.
“While we weren’t intentionally trying to recreate [The Book Café’s] magic, I do believe we’ve carried on from where it left off–taking the core principles of community, creative expression, and inclusivity, and infusing them into our own food-focused concept,” Afrotopia stated. I love the idea of food and community. People got to eat. If you’ve ever been in a place where you immediately feel comfortable and welcomed, then you understand the importance of these two principlesThat’s why most classic sitcoms have an iconic place for their ensemble to commune.
Think Central Perk from “Friends”, MacLaren’s Pub from “How I Met Your Mother”, or The Comic Center of Pasadena from “Big Bang Theory”. In truly communal spaces, you can spend hours talking about, ideating, researching, writing and rewriting your ideas and concepts. Such thoughts require fuel. This is why I frequent certain places. They provide me with an opportunity to get outside my head, and gain new inspiration.
I think it’s safe to say these types of communes are what we are all looking for, and what Harare natives miss most about the Book Café. We all need a community where we can network with real people! That’s why I think finding these spaces is a worthy pursuit for anyone. Having establishments where young artistic individuals are recognised, supported and celebrated, in a world that often ignores the arts, could be a life saver for many.
“Appreciation of the arts is a challenge. Creatives struggle to make ends meet, they are largely under-resourced, and thus cannot afford to pay to make use of the space and amenities we offer. Therefore, one of the biggest hurdles has been sustaining this model”, Tamuka explained. We all saw how COVID-19 crippled the entertainment scene. Post-pandemic, we need to keep supporting not only the artists, but the places that are the foundation for their development.
Government entities and NGOs may be in a better position to provide assistance to third spaces, but that does not mean we can’t each do our part. Individual support can come in the form of attending events, opting to spend money at these establishments vs larger chain operations, and even resharing social media posts. In the end, it’s up to us the citizens of the city to keep such spaces alive (especially the new ones still finding their footing).
Thus, as much as I love hearing stories about the old Book Café, it’s worth noting that the former director of the Café stated the reason they closed was “because of financial changes” that forced them to stop and reconsider their efforts. Therefore, creatives should take advantage of the city wide availability of inspiration, distraction, and everything in between.
Establishments like Afrotopia Café, Pikicha Gallery, First Floor Gallery, and the Jasen Mphepo Little Theatre exist all over the city. Let’s not let these establishments experience the same fate as the Book Café: only being loved once they’re gone.
Follow Carmel Makaya @ckundim99
MUD Journal 