Online Reporter
Mbulelo Mpofu, Zimpapers Arts and Entertainment Hub
TAKING a decisive step for artistic inclusivity, the City of Bulawayo has expanded the remit of this year’s Bulawayo Arts Festival (BAF), responding to increasing demands from local creatives, who felt sidelined by the focus on music and poetry in past events.
The 2025 festival, set to run from June 2–5, promises to be more diverse than ever, embracing a wide array of disciplines including visual arts, sculpture, culinary arts, crafts, music, dance and poetry. This year’s theme,
“Celebrating Royalty Through the Arts,” signals a renewed commitment to showcasing the full spectrum of Bulawayo’s creative talent.
This strategic shift follows feedback from artistes after last year’s festival, which left many visual and craft practitioners feeling underrepresented. In response, the City of Bulawayo’s Arts, Culture and Heritage Office — led by cultural activist Nomashawekazi “Lady Tshawe” Damasane — issued a call for proposals earlier this year, encouraging creatives across all genres to participate.
Danisile Ncube, a Bulawayo-based visual artist, sculptor, and photographer affiliated with ArtBulawayo, welcomed the development:
“We’re thrilled to see the BCC recognising visual artists for the upcoming Bulawayo Arts Festival. This acknowledgement validates the hard work and dedication of Bulawayo’s visual artists.”
Ncube also urged the City Council to sustain this momentum beyond the festival.
“Providing exhibition spaces, workshops, skills development training, and funding would empower artists. We also need strong promotional platforms — social media and events play a huge role in creating markets for local art.”
The initiative is already generating excitement within the artistic community. According to Nesisa Mpofu, Corporate Communications Manager for the City of Bulawayo, the open call attracted 219 applications. While music dominated the submissions, there was notable interest across multiple art forms.
“It was refreshing to see young artistes eager to be part of the 2025 festival. We’ve lined up a variety of performers, from gospel to tshibilika and everything in between. The final line-up will be released soon,” she said.
Mpofu said that the arts remain a strategic priority for Bulawayo’s development.
“Bulawayo is a vibrant and creative city where cultural rights in their diverse manifestations occupy a place of pride.
The arts sector is a key economic driver, and we are focused on ensuring its growth and economic participation.”
Since its inception, the Bulawayo Arts Festival has become a cultural mainstay, particularly through Bulawayo Day on June 2, which commemorates the city’s rich history and artistic prowess. Introduced after the Covid-19 pandemic, the day aims to revitalise the creative economy. Last year’s theme, #RESTART, symbolised a fresh beginning — a foundation this year’s edition continues to build upon.
@MbuleloMpofu
