FESTIVALS play an important role in the development of the arts sector, not only in Zimbabwe, but the world over.
RAISEDON BAYA OWN CORRESPONDENT
Festivals offer the main and sometimes only opportunity for people to experience the arts in their entirety.
Festivals showcase new talents and make established artistes accessible to the general public.
Festivals promote sharing and exchanges between artistes at local, regional and international levels. Festivals bring communities together.
Most importantly, festivals, especially big international ones, have proven beyond doubt that there are serious economic benefits, particularly for the community in which they take place.
Festivals are platforms for creative people to shine and to make business; they are anchor events that artistes and audience rely on for a true cultural experience.
The month of September has come and so has Bulawayo’s biggest cultural event, Intwasa Arts Festival koBulawayo.
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Always in the month of September the vegetation changes, new leaves sprout, screaming new life and new beginnings.
New grass shoots from the scorched earth, smiling, encouraging birds to sing new songs of hope.
In September nature’s beauty comes out in full force. September signals the beginning of spring and with it comes, Bulawayo’s cultural spring called Intwasa.
That this cultural fiesta is held in the month of September is no coincidence at all, as the month is a very significant month to the people of Bulawayo and Zimbabwe in general.
For the uninitiated, intwasa is a Ndebele name for the season of spring.
Starting in 2005 as a community initiative, Intwasa has grown to become an important event on the Zimbabwean arts calendar that celebrates human diversity and creativity.
To date Intwasa has hosted regional and international artistes from Botswana, Swaziland, South Africa, US, UK, Sierra Leone, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Belgium, Wales and Zambia and in the process has put Bulawayo on the international cultural map.
Hosting of Intwasa in Bulawayo is not a coincidence too — remember Bulawayo is a cultural city.
Historically, it was the capital city of Khumalo’s Mzilikazi Ndebele Kingdom, where successful festivals like inxwala and umthontiso were held.
The Ndebeles were and are still a culturally-conscious people.
Today cosmopolitan Bulawayo is one of the most diverse and culturally aware cities in Zimbabwe and is still regarded as the unofficial cultural capital.
The 2013 edition of Intwasa is to be held under the theme “Cultural Diversity — The Common Heritage of Humanity” and will take place from September 24 to 29, with more than 50 events being held at seven venues around Bulawayo.
The venues, all within a walking distance from each other, will host various arts genres from theatre, literary arts to music, dance and visual arts and crafts.
The festival venues are Bulawayo Theatre, National Art Gallery, Amakhosi Cultural Centre, Elite 400, City Hall Car Park, Selbourne Hotel and American Corner.
Exciting acts to look forward to are Three Generation, featuring Dudu and Uzah Manhenga and Claire Nyakujara.
Willis WaTaffi, formerly of Africa Revenge, will share the stage with Selmor Mtukudzi, who will be marking her first appearance at Intwasa.
The festival will host female poets from the region, the award-winning play Itsoseng from South Africa and the exciting play Pub Stories – based on the interesting writing and life of Zimbabwe’s late legendary writer Dambudzo Marechera.
The craft fair will offer craft lovers a wide range of Zimbabwean crafts.
Bulawayo artists to look forward to are Jeys Marabini, Ndolwane Super Sounds, Tukuye Sounds, Ramsey K and the Outfit Band.
Umkhathi Theatre Works, recently returned from America, will share the stage with other well-travelled dance companies like Flatfoot Dance Company from Durban, South Africa and Tumbuka Dance Company from Harare.
With 50 events taking place within six days, Intwasa is, without any doubt, the biggest cultural event in Bulawayo.
We are ready to push the festival to another level.
All we are awaiting is for people to come for the shows. If they come we’ll blow them away.
Raisedon Baya is the director of Intwasa Arts Festival KoBulawayo.
