Jamaram rescue Hifa

Melissa Mpofu Showbiz Editor
Jamaram, the gig monsters from Germany saved the Hifa closing day on Sunday evening as they ended up being the main act after Freshlyground was denied entry into the country as they did not have visas and temporary work permits.
The news that the South African group had been deported was not a surprise to many. Those who had bought tickets for the closing show were given an alternative to get a refund but most seemed not to mind and therefore attended the show.

Speaking during the closing show, a visibly disappointed Hifa founder, Manuel Bagorro said he was humbled by artistes who after hearing about the Freshlyground debacle, offered to perform.

“There are days filled with challenges and great sadness. Today was a sad day in lots of ways. Our closing group of artistes Freshlyground were turned away at Harare International Airport.

“That was really sad, but it was an incredible reminder of everything that this festival is, of everything that we are as Zimbabweans. I was overwhelmed with calls from artistes and supporters of the festival saying we can make something beautiful happen.

“I sincerely thank all artistes and people who support this festival who made this show happen,” said Bagorro.
True to their word, artistes who performed staged world class acts. The night was opened with a praise and worship song So Amazing from New York Pastor Chantel Wright with singers from Songs of Solomon and local gospel choirs.

Afterwards, people were treated to first class entertainment from German group, Jamaram which spent the better part of the festival in workshops working on collaborations with locals.

Jamaram used the closing night performance as an opportunity to present their new tracks which featured artistes, Acoustic Night Allstars, Tariro Negitare, and Prayersoul.

What made the group’s act special was that it added local chants such as Popopo and Hauite.
Another highlight of the closing night was South Africa’s comedian, Beauty Ramapelepele who left the crowds with cracked ribs after getting on stage clad in a South African flag gear and said: “Well at least someone had to come from South Africa so I am here” before taking a dig on white people and Indians who she said could not dance.

Other artistes who performed include Ammara Brown, Cynthia Mare, and Carl Joshua Ncube. Jah Prayzah who was also meant to perform did not pitch up, but that did not spoil the night. As usual, the night ended with electrifying colourful fireworks to mark the end of the week-long festival.

After the closing night, it was party time at the Zim Dancehall blast but unfortunately, most tourists had to leave as they could not keep up with the pressure from ghetto youths who came in their numbers. Also, some locals slowly drifted away as the show was a rather language rated one as the artistes’ songs were mainly vulgar ones with little productive messages in their lyrics.

While this year’s Hifa was well organised and had most of its shows sold out, the festival was at the centre of controversy, firstly for attempting to bring in the provocative Freshlyground and secondly for screening a controversial play Lovers in Time.

The play which was sold out caused a bit of a stir as people accused its producer of being distasteful and insensitive in mocking the gruesome murder of spirit mediums Ambuya Nehanda and Sekuru Kaguvi. The play portrayed the hanging of Mbuya Nehanda and Sekuru Kaguvi by the settler regime which was attributed to two drunk white men.

The play was almost stopped from being staged on Hifa’s last day before organisers intervened.
The producer Dr Agnieszka Piotrowska however defended the play saying: “The message play is more about reconciliation and healing the rift between the races, playing around the idea of ‘what if the white people had listened to Mbuya Nehanda and Sekuru Kaguvi.

“Rather than being insensitive, the play attempts to share in comedic form what could be possible, and goes to great lengths to underscore what the two liberation icons stood for.”