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Auxilia Katongomara Showbiz Reporter
THIS year’s edition of Bulawayo’s biggest arts festival – Intwasa Festival koBulawayo is set be “unforgettable” as three top music divas in the country have been lined up to perform at the five-day event.
The festival which will be held from September 23 to 27 will see jazz sensation Rute Mbangwa, contemporary tradition musician Edith WeUtonga and Afro-pop musician Tina Watyoka performing. The artistes will not perform as individuals as they collaborated to form a group – Amawala (Those that Shine).
Intwasa director Raisedon Baya said Amawala’s music was diverse as it appeals to most music lovers including young and old. “Amawala is a vibrant collaboration between leading women artistes of Zimbabwe from diverse musical backgrounds,” he said.
The three women said their group was here to stay as they are now being supported by the gender project – Female Literary Arts & Media Enterprise (Flame), which is one of Zimbabwe’s widest reaching arts development organisations.
Mbangwa is a 1998 graduate from Children Performing Arts Workshop (Chipawo), who is now a renowned and seasoned jazz artiste in Zimbabwe, performing with her own backing band as well as with many other artistes along the way.
Katiji who started her career in Bulawayo and was one of the founders of the all female group Amakhosikazi has over the years carved a niche as one of the talented musicians in the country.
Little known Watyoka would be making a debut in Bulawayo. Over the years she has worked with acclaimed artistes such as the late mbira star Chiwoniso Maraire, Busi Ncube and Zimbabwean poet Comrade Fatso and Chabvondoka.
The Intwasa Festival koBulawayo has over the years given women in music a platform as a number of seasoned artistes such as the late mbira star Maraire, jazz sensation Dudu Manhenga and Selmor Mtukudzi have performed on their stage .
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