adminKusile Madlela Showbiz Reporter
HARARE-based jazz musician Eve Kawadza is billed to perform at the Festival de la Francophonie taking place from today to March 27 in Bulawayo.
Alliance Française de Bulawayo director Marie Helen Predhom said free cultural activities meant to entertain, educate and improve cross-cultural understanding, to both the Zimbabwean and international community, would be held during the two-week fete.
“Every year the Embassies and institutions in Zimbabwe partner with the Alliance Française in Harare and Bulawayo to present a series of films, concerts, shows and activities that reflect the diversity of the francophone world,” Predhom said.
The Bulawayo festival’s main venues will be the Bulawayo National Gallery, Alliance Francaise and Indaba Book Cafe with a Fine French Food Dinner setting the tone for the festival at the Book Cafe tonight.
Dictation, French poetry competitions, quiz and talent shows will be held as a way to promote and celebrate French language learning. A Film Festival where the latest Francophone movies will be shown as well as a singing competition – Sing your way to Paris – will also be held during the festival with the winner expected to go on a two-week trip to Paris, courtesy of Bon Marché and the French Embassy.
“The Sing your way to Paris competition is open to any amateur musician of Zimbabwean nationality or legal resident, aged between 16 and 26 years,” said Predhom.
Auditions for the competition will be held today and tomorrow at Alliance Francaise with a vocal and language trainer available, free of charge.
The Francophone movies being shown at Alliance Francaise de Bulawayo can be enjoyed by all as they will have English subtitles. Admission will be free of charge for the films which include L’Oranais, I’m an Old Communist Hag, Les Petites Fugues, Qu’ai d’Orsay and Tu dors Nicole.
Kawadza, whose passion for French music grew when she enrolled for French classes at Alliance Française in 2012, performs at Alliance Francaise next week Saturday. She will also assist with the Sing your way to Paris competition.
“I’ve provided vocal coaching for contestants of Sing your way to Paris for the past two years and I’m looking forward to doing the same in Bulawayo. I’m hoping to have a good time with all those who’ll come through,” Kawadza said.
The artiste, who blends Jazz, Afro-Pop, will be backed by Jam Signal and Othnell “Mangoma” Moyo.
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