adminreflect and appreciate life from a different point of view as each artiste skillfully tells the stories of their communities their joys, pains, struggles and beliefs.
The fact is that you don’t have to buy an air ticket to travel the world to understand and experience other cultures, you just need to visit Hifa and that alone will change your worldview.
Every time I attend Hifa I am left with no words to define what music really is, my definition of harmony, rhythm and melody seems to change as I go through the varied performances.
This festival has given many of us an opportunity to explore and appreciate that art cannot be contained in a set standard but is a God-given sound to a people in a certain land to commune with him, with one another and, of course, to enjoy and communicate.
Rehearsals are in full swing as we speak as those selected are going through their paces in order to complement this year’s theme “A Show of Spirit”.
A visit to the rehearsal room where some of Zimbabwe’s young finest musicians are busy working it out left me excited as the line-up of musicians demonstrated that as a nation a lot has changed in terms of musical appreciation and development.
The band that performs for the opening night is made up of some very young stars that I have personally seen grow a few years ago and get on to the entertainment circuit.
The opening night promises to be a very vibrant and very energetic show as these youngsters are eager to demonstrate that they deserved this honour and that they have what it takes to rock.
One of them would be Tafadzwa Marova. Like his father, Marova is fast becoming a valuable musician as he plays the bass, though I have known him as a keyboardist.
Mutsawashe Gudhlanga is another young and dynamic drummer who is destined for greatness and who happens to be heartbeat of the band.
There is also Jairos Hambahamba, an amazing lead and rhythm keyboardist, who gives the band a mature touch.
Matthew Ngorima (lead guitarist) Madzara Simbarashe (trumpet), Aubrey Kabamba (saxophone) and big blazo Andrew Mabvura are some of the band members.
Some of the hottest voices to look out for include Prayersoul, Rutendo Machiridza, Tina Watyoka and the young and amazing 14-year-old Thamsanqa Moyo.
I hope to experience my favourite musical instrument — the kora.
l Richard Kohola is a music critic and development expert and can be contacted on the following number 0772 382 871 or email rkayclassics
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