Farai's Story - an obituary

Farai Wilshire 20.12.1977 - 05.09.2024

After completing his O Levels, Farai ventured into performing arts, specializing in dance, drama and poetry. This allowed him to tour many parts of Zimbabwe, educating in and out of school children. In 2005 the economic environment situation in the country was not favourable for artists, and he relocated to Epworth. He ventured into stream bank cultivation growing vegetables as a form of income. In 2017 Farai attended the "Arc Of Time” a Movement Medicine workshop with Susannah Darling Khan at Kufunda Learning Village, Zimbabwe. 

This dancing workshop sparked his love of the environment, and he recognised that he wanted to leave a legacy of planting trees. During the embodied visioning part of the workshop several other participants had also dreamt and danced with the trees and forests of the future. This group found each other in the workshop, came together and founded the "Tree Knowers and Growers” group, of which Farai was a passionate, pioneering member. And this became his mission. For the rest of his life he was planting trees, teaching children how to plant trees, sharing seeds with others.  

Farai propagated thousands, if not millions of seeds, facilitated tree workshops and nursery establishments. He inspired and educated many children and communities on the importance and value of trees.

With his huge heart, larger than life character and selfless personality he often lived in dire situations. But with his rich Soul and Spirit Farai helped a lot of vulnerable people which led him to be well respected member in his community, who mourn him deeply. 

Friend, earth Lover, Poet, Warrior of the Human Spirit, Tree Planter, Dancer!

Your body left us in an unimaginable way, with a sudden illness which took you from us so fast, we did not even have time to say goodbye.

But your Spirit and beautiful memories remain.

You will much missed.

You will be dearly remembered by the Earth, Tree Knowers and Growers family, The Dancing Family, Matrix Family, Zim Seed Savers, Trees for Harare and the Universe at large as they now read this about you.

You will be remembered by all the people you have argued with, shared drinks with, worked with, laughed with, danced with, cared for and gave hope.

You will be remembered by the earth you walked  on and the trees you planted.

All the seeds you have collected, cleaned, germinated and planted will definetly remember you.

The trees of Zimbabwe will carry your song and it will forever echo in the wind.

 THANK YOU FOR LEAVING A LEGACY

THANK YOU FOR BEING BORN

THANK YOU FOR DARING TO FOLLOW YOUR DREAM

Vongayi