Iyasa takes act to high density suburbs

Simbarashe Mutizwa Showbiz Reporter
BULAWAYO’s much travelled arts ensemble Inkululeko Yabatsha School of Arts (Iyasa) have embarked on a mission to take their acts to the high density suburbs of the City of Kings ahead of the festive season.

The group, pictured above, which has dazzled many on the local and international scene, is set to reach out to the local audience who have never had an opportunity to watch them live.

“Three quarters of our time is spent on tours especially in Europe. We are now embarking on a deliberate programme that is meant to reach out to our audience in the locations so that they might have an opportunity to watch us live.

“We also have some of our audience from the Diaspora who are going to be coming into the country for the festive season, they also would want to watch us live, so this is going to be an opportunity for them also,” said Iyasa founder and director, Nkululeko Dube.

The 25-member group, which has been touring Austria for 13 years, has already begun performing in the city.

“We have already started the programme in the city as we have been doing it at the Lounge on Sundays. This Saturday we are going to be at Emakhandeni Cricket Club before we move to another venue,” said Dube.

He said the globe-trotting group was in partnership with schools in the city in a bid to mentor and give back to the communities they come from.

“We are working with schools in Bulawayo in their arts activities.

“As part of that programme, we are going to be at City Hall where we are going to be working with SOS in their fundraising programme,” Dube said.

He said the group, which rose from being a Mpopoma High School drama club to an internationally-acclaimed arts unit, is already preparing for a 2015 international tour of Europe which is set to begin in February.