adminBongani Ndlovu and Simbarashe Mutizwa Showbiz Reporters
THE curtain comes down today on the 10th edition of the Intwasa Arts Festival KoBulawayo with the annual five-day fun-filled fete having various shows and workshops geared at improving and showcasing the arts industry in the city.
“Unforgettable” was the theme and most of the acts that were on stage be it at the Bulawayo Theatre or at the Chibuku stage or at the Zone were memorable, save for the forgettable official opening ceremony.
Pick of the crop this year was theatre as performing artistes, directors and script writers did their best to tell their stories and engage a diverse audience.
The plays that were shown include The Importance of Being Earnest, UMbiko KaMadlenya, Lion and the Jewel, The Colour of Hope and For Generations all commanding a full house.
On Tuesday evening, befitting the celebration of the 10th edition, UMbiko KaMadlenya, the play adapted from Ndebele novel by Mayford Sibanda, was shown at the Bulawayo Theatre. The actors, directors and scriptwriters outdid themselves and the full house got value for money.
The production had all aspects of theatre such as evoking emotions of sadness, hate, love and sympathy. One could identify with the characters such as Mbiko played by veteran performing artiste Memory Kumbota and Lobengula played by Richard Masuku.
The story was a journey of the succession crises that arose in the Ndebele State following the death of King Mzilikazi, with Mbiko seeking to ascend the throne.
Mbiko wanted to be king and defy set down laws in the land that kings are chosen through bloodline.
The play kept the full house captivated, with veteran actor Kumbota and youthful female actress, Bathabile Dlamini, who played Zinkabi, Mbiko’s wife, driving the storyline with aplomb.
The Women, Wine and Words show on Tuesday proved why Bulawayo is called the city of Queens. Female artistes took to the stage and mesmerised the audience with their poetry, theatre and music. The show was held at the National Gallery of Zimbabwe in Bulawayo.
Sithandazile Dube was at her usual best on the microphone as she delivered comical poems titled Izolo Lidlule Lamazolo and Isizwe Bani Esinje, which kept the crowd in stitches. S’tha as Dube is affectionately known, also used her poems to advocate for the upliftment of women through education and their talents.
The behaviour of the crowd, however, continues to cause concern as year-in and year-out people seem not to understand the standing rules of theatre that when a play has started, no one speaks, answers their phone, or walks in and out of the theatre. This was rampant in all plays even though the audience would have been informed that they should observe the rules.
South African playwright Kurt Egelhof was very strict on the rules and some people were locked out despite having tickets for coming late.
Jazz sensation Nomatshawekazi Damasane, Thandi Dlana and Zimbabwe’s only all female imbube group Nobuntu were also the pick of the night.
Earlier on in the day, Gifford High School came out tops in the Plan International High Schools Drama competition. They beat Mzilikazi and Tsholotsho High Schools into second and third place respectively.
On Thursday afternoon, The Craft Fair kicked off at the City Hall Car Park and ran for two days with various exhibitors displaying their wares ranging from curios, bead works, fish, herbs and crotched clothes. It is unfortunate that the fair was marked by a low turnout.
In the evening the much awaited Spring Jazz Show, headlined by Tariro Negitare, proved to the audience that women can also be lead guitarists.
Tariro, who was backed by two female singers, blended so well with her ensemble much to the delight of the cheering crowd who stood up to join the jazz singer in her songs.
Taririo later remixed hit track Uripi by putting some rap verses in between. The soulful Tariro also led her band into singing Ungaphi amid cheers from the crowd.
Thereafter, the Cool Crooners wasted no time as they got on stage to prove that age is just a number. They put up an electrifying performance.
The show was the place to be for jazz lovers as they got a treat from the old men of Jazz music who gave revellers value for their money.
The Bhulugwe Lami hit makers left no audience member sitting down as they dished out soulful ballads.
On the same night at the Chibuku Stage, the duo of Ndux Junior and Clement Magwaza were on fire as they kept revellers on their feet. With their fast paced songs and dance antics, the duo was at the top of their game and had the hundreds eating out of their hands.
When Magwaza chanted, “One more song and I go,” the crowd would refuse to let him leave the stage showing how much fun they were having.
Today is the last day and in the morning there will be a Craft Fair at the City Hall Car Park at 9AM. At the same time the CoFFashion Pop-Up will be held at the National Gallery of Zimbabwe in Bulawayo. A workshop, Master Class for Play creation will be held at the Hope Centre while at the Bulawayo Theatre there will be The Colour of Hope.
At the City Hall Car Park there will be drum majorettes at 10.30AM and an hour later there will be martial arts, displays, poetry, music and dance at the Zone.
At 2PM the play UMbiko KaMadlenya will be staged for the last time at the Bulawayo Theatre. At the same time there will be a Kwaito vs Hip hop show at the Zone.
At 4PM there will be a Dance Extravaganza featuring globe trotters Iyasa and Umkhathi. The King George VI play Dancing Queen will be showcased at the Bulawayo Theatre at 6PM. Zimboita, Clement Magwaza and Makoomba will take to the stage at 7PM.
Rounding off the night and festival is the Festival Open Air Party and Close down.
Online Reporter