Intwasa Festival coincides with 10th annivesary

Entertainment
THE 2014 edition of Intwasa Arts Festival koBulawayo has been slated for September 23-27 as the event coincides with the organisation’s 10th anniversary.

THE 2014 edition of Intwasa Arts Festival koBulawayo has been slated for September 23-27 at different venues in Bulawayo’s central business district as the event coincides with the organisation’s 10th anniversary. ADMIRE KUDITA OWN CORRESPONDENT

The theme of the festival is “Unforgettable”. Raisedon Baya, the festival director, pointed out this year’s event coincided with the organisation winning an accolade at the recently held National Arts Merits Awards (Nama) in Bulawayo.

“Winning the award was a reminder that someone is watching what we do and recognition of Intwasa’s contribution to Bulawayo’s arts scene and Zimbabwe’s arts sector,” he said.

“We are a platform for sharing and marketing of art products. It is our hope the award will inspire the whole team to deliver a better festival this year. The award was also an early present for our 10th anniversary.”

Intwasa Festival koBulawayo won the Nama Arts Service award.

“Intwasa has and continues to be a platform to share ideas and showcase artistic work in seven different genres of the arts. The genres are music, dance, theatre, spoken word, literary arts, visual arts, and crafts.

“Intwasa which started in 2005 as a community arts festival has grown to become the second biggest arts event in Zimbabwe. There are many things about us, our cultures, our communities and our life that are ‘Unforgettable’. Things that make us want to get together as families, friends, and communities to celebrate,” added Baya.

He called for applications from artistes wishing to participate at this year’s edition.

It can be argued that Intwasa Arts Festival is the country’s second biggest after the Harare International Festival of the Arts.

Last year at the official opening ceremony, the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority’s boss Karikoga Kaseke announced that his organisation was forging a strategic partnership with Intwasa that would see the festival becoming the biggest in the country. Pundits are watching to see how exactly this will play out.

Intwasa is a deserving winner of the Nama because of all the sterling work the team has put into making it the premier arts festival in this part of the country.

This year’s event can only get bigger with the same level of corporate support witnessed with the just ended Nama awards.

Interested artistes can contact the organisation at Office: 403, 4th Floor, Lapf House, 8th Avenue