Transforming lives through Theatre, a centerpiece of Dr. Delphine Njewele’s academic work
By Zamda George, CMU
As we celebrate the International Women’s Day this month at the University of Dar es Salaam, Dr. Delphine Cosmas Njewele emerges as one of the forces to be reckoned with in the world of Theatre Arts, particularly in Theatre for Development.
An academic and practitioner in the Department of Creative Arts, College of Humanities (CoHU) at UDSM, Dr. Njewele has dedicated her career to using theatre as a tool for social change, education and research.
With a unique approach that combines performance and community engagement, Dr. Njewele has made significant contributions to the field in Tanzania and beyond.
“You might ask why Theatre for Development? We use theatre as a tool for communicating developmental messages to the people”, explains Dr. Njewele.
She explains that unlike traditional research methods where interviewees may provide filtered responses, Theatre for Development offers an immersive and culturally embedded approach.
"When using interviews, the interviewees are more likely to hide certain things or give you what you want to hear. But when you use theatre, you tap into their culture—listening to their songs, their plays—you get genuine insights. This allows for effective data gathering while ensuring that the community feels included and engaged”, she adds.
Beyond research, theatre also plays a crucial role in disseminating findings. Dr. Njewele emphasizes that academic research should not remain shelved but rather be shared with the people who contributed to it.
“People are busy; they will not read journal articles; and even if they do, the academic writing is often too complex for the layman to understand. But when you use arts, specifically theatre, you can simplify even the most complicated topics”, explains Dr. Njewele.
A unique pathway in Theatre Arts
Dr. Njewele’s path in Theatre Arts is unique. Her journey into Theatre for Development was shaped by her Makonde cultural heritage and personal experiences.
"My tribe is known to be performers, so when I was done with secondary education, I initially pursued teaching at Korogwe Teachers Training College (TTC), influenced by my father. However, I always found myself drawn to the arts. Later, I studied Theatre Arts at Butimba College in Mwanza and it all fell into place”, she recounts joyfully.
Her academic path took her to the University of Dar es Salaam, where she earned a Bachelor and Master’s degrees in Theatre Arts. Seeking deeper specialization, she pursued another Master’s degree at the University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa under the "Drama for Life" programme, focusing on Applied Theatre.
"The master’s programme in South Africa was a project to address issues that make human beings whole—it was about life. At the time, the focus was HIV/AIDS, and through theatre, we explored participatory performance, legal aid, and drama therapy”, she said.
Her PhD research at the University of Dar es Salaam examined the TUSEME Project, an initiative using performing arts to empower the girl child through education. "I studied how drama could be used not just for performance but as a tool to change people’s lives”.
Through her expertise, Dr. Njewele has contributed to bridging the academia-practice gap by engaging in several consultancy projects, utilizing Theatre for Development to address pressing social issues.
The project includes the Food System Research Network for Africa (FSNet-Africa) – Using theatre to disseminate research findings, and the Economic and Social Research Foundation (ESRF) Project – Communicating findings on overcoming constraints to healthy diets in Tanzania, to name but a few.
Her impact extends beyond academia, influencing organizations such as the versatile Parapanda Theatre, now Babawatoto, which continues to practice Theatre for Development in Tanzania.
Legacy and future generations
When asked if she considers herself a guru in Theatre Arts, Dr. Njewele humbly states, "I cannot say that. But when naming academicians in Theatre Arts, I am one among them”.
“There were pioneers like Amandina Lihamba and Penina Mlama before us, and now it is our generation. I hope the next generation will come with even more expertise”, adds Dr. Njewele.
Her personal resilience is deeply rooted in her upbringing. Raised by a hardworking mother who was a farmer and a father who was an educator, she learned the values of determination and education early on.
"Going to school wasn’t an option in our family. But studying hard was all me—it was my way of proving myself, of excelling and being noticed’, she reflects.
As she continues to push the boundaries of Theatre for Development, Dr. Njewele remains committed to using drama to heal, educate and empower communities.
"Drama is not just about performance—it is about transformation. It is about making sure that research does not remain in the shelves but reaches the people it was meant to serve”.