Ibumba Festival 2011 roars into life

with a special opening concert titled “Tribute”, a dedication to artistes who passed on over the years.
The festival running under the theme “Smaller but bigger” is a four-day fete which will run from today until Sunday. It will see artistes drawn from all genres coming together to celebrate.
In an interview yesterday, Siyaya press and liaison officer, Nkululeko Nkala, said they saw it fit to celebrate the lives of fallen artistes.
“The festival saw it fit to pay tribute to all our friends and comrades in the arts who passed on over the years.
“The artists will play a song or an act that reminds them of their departed comrades with some acts generally dedicated to local, national and international acclaimed icons,” said Nkala.
Artistes lined up to perform at the special gig are Umdumo Wesizwe, Siyaya, Umkhathi, Iyasa, Sadalala Amajekete, Victory Siyanqoba, Cool Crooners, Janet Wood, Jeys Marabini and Simon Banda.
Nkala said guests would be encouraged to light a candle in memory of the departed artistes.
The event will see the presentation of the “Ibumba Festival Lifetime Achievement Award” to a living legend.
Last year, the lifetime achievement award was presented to Simon Mambazo Phiri, the Ibumba Festival, Siyaya Arts and Sabela Music Projects’ director. It was presented to Mambazo as a surprise by US-based Zimbabwean Oscar Mlotshwa, who was representing the Friends of the Festival.
Nkala said the idea has since been adopted by the festival to honour legends in the arts industry.
Capping the night will be performances by world travelled Bongo Love, the late Beatar Mangethe’s Mangethe Crew and Willom Tight and the Tight Family of the Nyoka Inyoka fame who have promised Bulawayo fans a treat as they will belt their popular and new songs.
More than 30 groups and individual artistes are expected to grace the four-day festival that will have performances in theatre, music, dance, comedy, poetry and film.