THE Intwasa Festival KoBulawayo and Shoko Festival to be held in Bulawayo and Harare respectively, will both run during the last week of September raising concerns of double attraction.
BATANAI MUTASA OWN CORRESPONDENT
Intwasa Festival KoBulawayo is scheduled to run from the September 23 to 27 while the Shoko festival will be held from September 25 to 28.
Both are international arts festivals which attract similar audiences and performers which could impact on attendance.
Shoko Festival media liaison officer Tafadzwa Sharaunga said the dates were by default and not by design because they were closer to the end of the month which is best to hold a festival since more people would have money to attend.
Sharaunga explained that this would not compromise both events in any way, but could work to their advantage.
“We have a relationship with Intwasa and most of the time we share artistes,” he said.
“We do not foresee any problems and artistes can perform in both events such that if a person misses an act in Bulawayo, they can catch it in Harare.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
“It is also an advantage for international artistes who could travel to attend both shows”.
Intwasa Festival director Raisedon Baya downplayed any possible problems saying the two festivals were working together.
“We are not fighting, but actually assisting one another on what it is we can make out of it. For example, the cost of bringing in foreign artistes,” he said. This actually makes our life easier as we also share partners,”
However, Baya acknowledged the challenges the situation could pose for people interested in attending both shows and indicated that organisers of both events were in consultation to ensure the logistics would be better organised for coming events.
Foreign artistes scheduled to perform at both shows include Crystal Tatty from Ghana, Sir Black from Kenya and Frank Anderson from Denmark.
Intwasa Festival will be hosting the ninth edition around Bulawayo and will provide a platform for many of the city’s artistes to showcase their talents.
