admingiving children and youths a chance to shine.
According to Gavin Peters, Hifa artistic director, all types of arts will be displayed at the youth stage including workshops.
“Art is a way of communication. This year we saw it vital to give the children and teens sometime themselves educating and entertaining themselves on their youth stage.
“We are expecting some international artistes to come and conduct workshops together with children so they can understand and appreciate art.”
Peters said exam sitting candidates should come at the youth zone as renowned author Shimmer Chinodya will share his set book experience on “Harvest of Thorns”.
“We have a lined up of activities which will not only entertain the youths but benefit them at large especially the education part as renowned authors will have a chance to talk to the sitting candidates on their set books,” he said.
Peters said giant puppets will grace the streets of Harare during the festival.
“French giant puppets have the size of some of our buildings and they will also parade in the CBD,” he said.
However, Peters said some local schools and youth artistes have confirmed and they are already on the programme.
“Chisipiti Senior School students are also to take part in some of the workshops. Africaid children are expected to come on Thursdays to have a feel of the festival,” he said.
Fred Bakali, a dancer with Ghetto Creepers, said the idea of giving children and the youth’s platform a chance to shine can develop the country.
“Arts itself can sustain livelihood if taken seriously. By having a chance to perform in such festivals it is a way of promoting and developing different cultural heritages.
“This is my first time to attend such festival and I hope I will learn and experience different skills,” he said.
Fred who started dancing at the age of 13 years old said a lot needs to be done to identify and nurture local talent. “We appreciate what Hifa people are doing especially to us teens. Gone are the days when artists
from other countries come and took centre stage.
“This is a festival let us all unite and have a common goal of edutainment regardless of our race, religion, background and age,” he said.
The 20 year old said he loved the mural art done at Mbare Flats which has beautifies the area.
“I am from Mbare and each day when I pass-by the flats I just stare and admire and thanks to Hifa,” he said.
The young lad specialises on dancehall, sungura and Kwaito.
However’ Hifa is a six-day annual festival and workshop programme that showcases local, regional and international arts and culture in a comprehensive festival programmes.
It has come to be seen as an important symbol of something positive about Zimbabwe, unifying socially and culturally disparate groups of locals bringing huge audiences together to celebrate
something positive — the healing and constructive capacity of the arts.
Last year saw schools Arundel
Girls High, Churchill, Girls High School, Mufakose High1 and Pathway School taking part.
Online Reporter