THE border town of Beitbridge will host its first-ever arts festival from October 24 to 26. The two-day festival will see local and regional acts taking part in the festival.
Luyanduhlobo Makwati Own correspondent
The Beitbridge International Festival will run under the theme “Big Art, Small Town”.
Nkululeko Nkala one of the organisers said the theme was meant to address the misconception that festivals only happen in big towns.
“As artistes from Beitbridge, we are trying to correct that misconception and we want to show the world that even in small towns we have brilliant artistes who can showcase their various talents ranging from dance, music, up to fine art, among other genres that people can think of,” he said.
The event, community driven and with limited funding, will see most of its activities staged at the Pagomba, a premier arts venue that was completed recently.
The venue will be officially launched during the festival with artistes performing on virgin stage.
Nkala said the main act of the festival will be the country’s sungura giant Alick Macheso who will perform on the last day of the festival. He will be backed by Clement Magwaza of the Khokhotsha fame.
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The festival will present up-and-coming artistes with a chance to perform live on stage as an opportunity to expose them.
The move is aimed at encouraging budding artistes in the border town to grow beyond their town and become brands on their own.
Nkala also added that they were almost through with the preparations and looking forward to a fruitful festival that will grow in the near future and match the standards of other festivals.
“We are working hard to make sure that this inaugural festival in the border town becomes a success. We strongly believe that in the near future the festival will get recognition and grow to become a permanent feature,” he said.
Over the last years the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe has encouraged artistes in various provinces of the country to work together through festivals for the benefit of the arts sector.
