In her latest experimental short film Bureau De Change, Zimbabwean poet and filmmaker Chioniso Tsikisayi—a frequent Brittle Paper contributor—pushes the boundaries of cinematic storytelling through a powerful fusion of spoken word and visual narrative. Released on YouTube on March 28, the five-minute poetic film invites viewers on a symbolic Pan-African journey in search of a new hairstylist—a striking metaphor for collective renewal, cultural identity, and transformation.

The film is both a companion and a continuation of Tsikisayi 2023 short Queue for a Dream that tries to peel back the emotional layers of the human experience. This theme persists in Bureau De Change, where emotion is treated as a universal currency—spendable, convertible, and transcendent.

Co-directed by Clinton Zvoushe and produced alongside cinematographer Xolani Mkwananzi, the film showcases a bold aesthetic that is at once nostalgic and futuristic. The cast features Chioniso Tsikisayi herself alongside her sister Phyllis Tsikisayi and artist Lulu Blakk. Afro-Èle Hair Artistry contributes visually stunning “hair art” that acts as a symbolic crown, underlining the film’s Pan-African themes.

Rooted in the performance Tsikisayi gave at the 2023 Women, Wine, and Words event during the Intwasa Arts Festival KoBulawayo, Bureau De Change feels personal and political, intimate and expansive. It is a lyrical examination of cultural identity and shared humanity, brought to life through spoken word, cinematic visuals, and collaborative storytelling.

Chioniso Tsikisayi is a multi-disciplinary artist from Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. Her work has appeared in Brittle Paper, Isele Magazine, and Litro, and her previous film was screened at the NGO International Film Festival in Australia. She is former finalist for Grand Slam Africa and winner of the 2023 Bulawayo Arts Award for Outstanding Poet. She is the author of a manuscript What It Means to Outlive a Daughter that was longlisted for the 2024 Island Prize, and the play A Woman Has Two Mouths.

Watch Bureau De Change below!