Online Reporter
Mbulelo Mpofu, Zimpapers Arts and Entertainment Hub
THE Intwasa Arts Festival koBulawayo bursts into life today, rekindling the city’s creative flame until Saturday, September 27.
Returning to its traditional springtime slot after last year’s November edition, the festival runs under the evocative theme, “Imagine It, Experience It.”
Despite perennial funding and organisational challenges, festival director Raisedon Baya said it is all systems go.
“This year’s edition may not be as big as we had hoped, but we are committed to making it happen. We have lined up about six or seven key events that audiences can look forward to during the festival,” Baya said.
He said this year’s programme, though streamlined, still promises standout moments. The festival opens tonight with Boys 2 Men: Raised in Bulawayo at the Bulawayo Public Library, featuring rising comedians Mbongeni Ignatius and Frank Chirisa.
“We believe they have content that is fit for audiences. We urge people to come and support them and enjoy comedy as it grows,” said Baya.
A major highlight is Saturday’s one-off staging of the reimagined classic musical Ipi Tombi at the Bulawayo Theatre.
“For us, one of the beauties of this year is collaborating with the Bulawayo Theatre to bring back the show. The first run was marvelous, and we’re hoping people will come in their numbers to see it one last time,” Baya said.
The festival’s signature event, “Women, Wine and Words,” returns with female voices including Tina Watyoka, Um’Africakazi, Vuyo Brown, Rute Mbangwa, Lioness Shumbakadzi and Sithandazile Gumbo. This year, it pairs with the inaugural Gender at Work conference, hosted in partnership with the Zimbabwe Musicians’ union (ZiMU) tomorrow at the Bulawayo Club.
On Friday, the festival pays tribute to the late cultural stalwart Pathisa Nyathi with historian Arnold Nkala delivering a lecture on the role of festivals and seasons in modern society.
“This lecture is not really about ubab’uPathisa, but the kind of work he championed. We urge the public, especially those who believed in what he stood for, to attend,” said Baya.
Saturday will see the festival host Intwasa Book Day at the Bulawayo Club, a celebration of literature featuring discussions and presentations from morning till late. Running alongside will be the ever-popular Intwasa Poetry Slam, offering spoken word artists a competitive stage.
Baya closed with an appeal to the city and potential partners.
“We’re still looking for support in kind and in cash to keep the festival alive. Most importantly, we’re urging Bulawayo people to come out and participate.” — @MbuleloMpofu
