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Ntombiyolwandle Ndlovu, Sunday Leisure Reporter
INTWASA Arts Festival koBulawayo has come and gone and focus has now shifted to Ibumba Festival that is scheduled to take place in December and is expected to carry and plunge merry-makers into the festive celebrations.
The seven-day arts jamboree that will run between 16 and 22 December will see strong local cultural exchange links being established. The festival is hosted and presented by Siyaya Arts Ensemble and supported by Sabela Music projects. The hosts hinted that the festival would be filled with first-class music, dance, film, literature, arts, poetry, and theatre performances from around the country.
Speaking to Sunday Leisure, the festival director Saimon Mambazo Phiri confirmed that the festival was going to take place in two months’ time under the theme ‘‘Full On’’.
“Full On is our official theme for this year’s edition. Nothing is going to limit us as we are getting full on, on everything and also bringing new ideas with the objective of thrilling arts and entertainment lovers in the city. The usual suspects will bring surprises to up the energies of the festivities and make it a reality,” said Mambazo.
This year, the festival is expanding as it is spreading its wings to other venues around Bulawayo although Makokoba will still remain the main venue for some of the events that will be taking place.
“Stanley Square in Makokoba will be our base for the festival. We are also having other venues outside Makokoba that include National Art Gallery in Bulawayo, Bulawayo Theatre and Family Of God Church where we are having a gospel festival currently running there,” said Mambazo.
Mambazo also said that the festival was growing and getting better every year.
“We are lifting the bar higher and higher every year and this year is going to be even better as prominent artistes are expected for the festival. This is going to be our seventh year as an international festival, with seven venues and seven big shows lined up for the audience,” said Mambazo.
He added that Ibumba aims to be the largest arts event in Bulawayo and even to compete at international level.
“We want to be distinctive by creating programmes that are appealing to our audience. We also wish to become the biggest festival around the world,” said Mambazo.
The festival has seen the participation of groups such as Black Umfolosi, Savannah Arts, Ingwe, Kwabatsha and Sibanye to name but just a few and has also seen people coming from as far as South Africa, Zambia, Ghana and Germany.
Ibumba International Festival has been held in Bulawayo by Siyaya Arts since 1996 and this year’s edition is the 17th and will be held in Makokoba which is one of the oldest residential suburbs in the city with a rich history of both arts and politics. The festival continues to explore the world of arts in its celebration of music, dance and theatre, and has something for everyone at every level.
“As we continue with the growth of Ibumba Festival, we shall not undermine the way Makokoba has been the festival’s permanent backdrop,” said Mambazo.
Online Reporter