Online Reporter
Mbulelo Mpofu, Zimpapers Arts and Entertainment Hub
EVERYONE has a Pathisa Nyathi story and during this year’s Intwasa Arts Festival KoBulawayo, the late historian and cultural stalwart will be honoured as hinted by festival director Raisedon Baya.
Baya made the announcement on Wednesday, as the first batch of this year’s festival programmes, specifically for one of its key venues, the Bulawayo Public Library (BPL), was released.
He revealed that Nyathi’s life will be celebrated through the eyes of the Amagugu International Heritage Centre, the institution he founded in 2012.
“We are engaging Amagugu Cultural Heritage Centre in a collaboration on the Pathisa Nyathi Lecture. We don’t want something too grand, but rather something manageable and dignified. Pathisa was a man of the people, our father and cultural leader. We want to remember him, honour his work, and celebrate his legacy. We hope those who see the value in this cause will join us to make it memorable,” said Baya.
Nyathi, who passed away due to diabetes-related complications, was also a teacher and actor, widely known for his role in the 1990s drama series Kukhulwa Kokuphela. He will be commemorated through a dedicated event, The Pathisa Nyathi Lecture Series, scheduled for the penultimate day of the festival.
Running under the theme Imagine it, Experience it from September 24 to 27, this year’s festival is also powered by the “Become a Friend of Intwasa” campaign, an initiative to help sustain Zimbabwe’s oldest arts festival.
To keep the festival alive and thriving, the organisers are appealing to individuals and businesses to contribute financially under this new support drive.
“The ‘Friends of Intwasa’ is something we’ve wanted to launch for a long time. We introduced it this year, and the response has already been very encouraging. It’s essentially about members of the public supporting specific events within the festival. This year, our focus is on promoting new faces and fresh talent. We aim to expand it significantly in the future.
“Festival preparations are in full swing. We’re putting everything in place and still seeking support and partnerships to help us curate a truly inclusive festival,” Baya added.
One notable shift this year is a deliberate push to promote young creatives and emerging talent.
“The programme at this venue (Bulawayo Public Library) will focus more on the youth. It’s all about fresh ideas. We hope this space becomes a creative hub for young people during the festival,” Baya explained.
However, the festival isn’t adopting an “out with the old, in with the new” stance entirely. Long-standing events such as the Intwasa Poetry Slam will retain familiar faces alongside new talent.
“We’re welcoming both new and established poets who feel they can contribute and add value to the festival,” Baya said.
Other highlights to look out for at the BPL include “Youth Evangelism Through Artistic Expression” and the “Young Writers’ Roundtable: Writing in the Time of AI and Self-Publishing”, ensuring audiences are spoilt for choice. –
@MbuleloMpofu
