Arts festival lives to billing

Godwin Muzari Entertainment Editor
The inaugural Junction 24 Arts Festival and Market held over the weekend lived to its billing as artistes of various genres took turns to display their creativity.
The festival, which was organised by the Arts Association of Zimbabwe, took place at Junction 24 outdoor entertainment venue along Harare-Chitungwiza road.
Artistes that performed on the main stage of the festival include BaShupi, Jabavu Drive, Prince Musarurwa, Inzwi Remhondoro and Kesiya Magosha.
BaShupi thrilled children that attended the fete with his good act. He invited children close to the stage and danced with them as he did child-play song “Dudu Muduri”. The children went down to haphazard dance styles as BaShupi cheered them.

The young ones went wild when BaShupi called poet Albert Nyathi to the stage. Nyathi was mobbed by his little admirers and had to pull his way up the stage to greet his fans. BaShupi also did renditions of various Zimdancehall hits and old local classics to put icing on his performance.

Inzwi Remhondoro serenaded mature music lovers with their good mbira tunes. Although there were sound hiccups at the beginning of their performance, the mbira players compensated the mishap with a good mix of traditional songs. They sang a number of sing-along folk songs to the delight of the audience.

When Kesiya went on stage, it was time for serious dancing. The energetic singer always breathes life to events when she goes on stage. She did the same at Junction 24 and many marveled at her energy.

Poets Mbizo Chirasha, Chirikure Chirikure and Nyathi presented flawless acts. They did popular and new poems with Chirasha doing well with “Africa My Motherland”, Chirikure entertaining audiences with “Kanyanisa” while Nyathi did “My Daughter” before turning comic with his new offering “Shakespeare My Son”. Comedian Edgar Ladgeveldt was at his best and dropped rib-cracking jibes throughout his performance.

The good performances on stage were complemented by an active Zone B stage that presented marimba acts. The stage, which was near the venue’s entrance played an important welcoming role for many that attended the festival with Mbare Crew presenting captive marimba beats.

National Arts Council of Zimbabwe director Elvas Mari who attended the event hailed organisers of the festival for coming up with the multi-genre faimily entertainment fete.

“This is a good venue and this is a noble festival. I am impressed that they have decided to brand this festival as a family event. It is good for our artistes and also good for their fans. We would like to see the festival growing in its next editions,” said Mari.

Nyathi thanked organisers for making the event free to fans.
“It is not often that we have organisers bringing so many artists for a festival free of charge. They have paid artistes but invited fans to enjoy the arts for free. It is a great idea that should be supported by  everyone who is serious about the growth of the arts sector,” said Nyathi.

An official from Arts Association of Zimbabwe said they were happy with the turnout at the inaugural edition.
“This is just a first edition and few people know about the festival yet. We are happy that a good number to have good time with their families as they supported their artists. We hope the festival will grow bigger and better with next editions,” he said.

Junction 24 proprietor Tavepi Madzingira said they intend to make the event a big monthly festival when they get more resources.
“We are looking for partnerships so that we can make this event big. It has great potential and we will work hard to make it big. We hope we will get partners and sponsors to ease the burden on our part because our aim is to bring big names to the festival and also promote upcoming talent,” said Madzingira.

“This inaugural edition has shown us that we can do much for our arts industry. There should be a time when artists and their fans meet and have fun without commercializing events.”

Besides performers, a number of visual artists exhibited their pieces at the event’s gallery and curio shop while storyteller Mbuya Nyaradzo had a good time with children.