THE critically acclaimed South African play, Madame President, which looks at women’s roles under modern day patriarchy, will have its Zimbabwean debut at the Youth Cultural Arts Festival (Yocaf) in Masvingo this July/August.
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The Edmund Mhlongo production has had successful runs of various South African venues and just recently toured Europe.
This is a major coup for Yocaf, a small-town festival which has faced all sorts of challenges in recent years.
But challenges are the things Zimbabweans feed on and there is a buzz in Masvingo as Yocaf, which for the last two years has helped shape the artistic landscape in the city, readies for its third edition. It’s a been a journey of courage for festival director, Leeroy Gono, who has faced trouble with the police in the past for “the content” of some of the productions at the festival, along with fellow artists Patience Tawengwa and Tafadzwa Muzondo.
This year, Yocaf is being celebrated with the theme, “Its Time”, centred on the idea amongst many young people that they want their time and no longer want decisions being made for them.
“They want to contribute to their development as well as their communities,” explained Gono in a statement sent to Zimbo Jam. “It’s time, the theme, relates to how the ideas, dreams and beliefs of today’s youth are ready to form the foundation of tomorrow’s communities in our country.”
Since its launch, the festival has been instrumental in bringing young people together and giving them a voice in a city where platforms for young people to speak up are rare.
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Gono said that there had been an overwhelming response from artists and groups wanting to take part in the festival. “We have received over 38 entries from high schools, more than 30 music groups and 18 professional theatre productions. The unfortunate thing is that we can only accommodate 12 high schools, three musical groups and three professional productions because of budgetary constraints.”
This year the festival introduces for the first time a culture day, where on the day everyone will wear attire from their different cultures, Traditional food will be served on the day and there will be displays of the different cultures in Zimbabwe.
The best traditionally dressed male and female will be crowned King and Queen of Yocaf and will reign till the next Festival.
Gono explained that they were trying to have some events at the Ancient City of Great Zimbabwe. “We are also hoping to have an afternoon at the Great Zimbabwe monument as a way of reconnecting with our roots,” he said.
The workshop programme returns again this year. Some of the highlights from last year’s workshops include, creative writing by a team of professors from the University of Iowa, US, a poetry workshop by Albert Nyathi, a media and the arts session by Zimpapers journalist Mthandazo Dube and a workshop on physical theatre by Lloyd Nyikadzino among others.
Yocaf is scheduled to take place from July 31 to August 3, 2013 at the Civic Centre in Masvingo. The official opening ceremony will be on Thursday, August 1 .
Yocaf opens with a musical called Reflections from a Broken Mirror which Gono said is “a must-see show!”
