Hifa’s return brings renewed hope for creatives

Refreshing news about the timely return of the Harare International Festival of Arts (Hifa), following an eight-year hiatus, has brought cheer to the creative community, event organisers and artistes.

Founded in 1999, Hifa was widely regarded as one of Africa’s biggest festivals, having brought international stars to Zimbabwe, most who collaborated with local artistes across disciplines, boosting their careers.

Iconic musicians such as Hugh Masekela, Youssou N’Dour and Salif Keita are among those who performed at the event.

Economically, Hifa was credited with boosting the tourism and hospitality sectors, which benefit from such large-scale events.

When it folded, organisers cited financial constraints, with the Covid-19 pandemic further worsening the situation.
Now, its imminent return has been welcomed by curators, administrators and artistes.

Following the announcement made on Independence Day that Hifa will run from August 3 to 9 under the theme “Up”, euphoria has since spread throughout the creative community.

Renowned spoken word poet, researcher and writer Chirikure Chirikure, who previously curated the spoken word category, welcomed Hifa’s return as a boost for the arts sector.

“We welcome the return of Hifa, which was popular for bringing international acts from various arts genres to Harare. As one of the curators, it was always a marvel to see local acts interacting with international stars. It provided a huge platform for our artistes to be watched globally, which is a plus for us.”

Similar sentiments were echoed by filmmaker, theatre producer, and script-writer Retired Major Special Matarirano.

“Hifa’s resurrection is a great signpost for arts revival at global standards. Hifa was the peak of arts and film celebration in Zimbabwe and Africa at large. It helped put Zimbabwe on the global map. Hence, its return brings a lot of hope for the future of the industry,” said Matarirano.

Multi-media specialist Nico Abote, who worked behind the scenes on many Hifa productions, said the festival is more than a multicultural event as it opened new opportunities for him.

“Hifa has always been more than just a festival. It is a celebration of the best in local, regional and international arts and culture, from theatre, dance and music to street performances, spoken word and visual arts.

“Since 1999, it has played an important role in supporting artistes, building community and growing Zimbabwe’s creative industry. For many of us, it is where inspiration happens and unforgettable moments are created,” Abote shared on his social media handles.

Musician Victor Kunonga, who made his Hifa debut in 2006, said he is looking forward to the return of the festival, which helped him connect with fans. “I was still an upcoming artiste when I performed at Hifa in 2006. I thoroughly enjoyed myself as part of the international festival,” he recalled.

The excitement around Hifa 2026 comes at a time when local artistes have been calling for the return of week-long international festivals that fully showcase all genres. Funding and sponsorship challenges have led to the shelving of several festivals, raising fears that Hifa could also be affected.

However, the festival is here for a while as dates for the 2027 and 2028 editions have already been shared. The confirmation has brought relief to festival-goers.