Online Reporter
Liberty Dube
Entertainment Correspondent
PREPARATIONS for this year’s edition of the Ndau Arts Festival are at an advanced stage, with organisers promising a bigger and better celebration as the cultural event continues to attract local, regional and international recognition.
The festival will be held on September 26 at the Paiyapo Arts Development and Heritage Centre in Bangira Village, Chipinge.
Ndau Arts Festival director, Phillip Kusasa, this week announced the theme for this year’s event as: “Ndau Creatives Unplugged: Local Writers and Performers Pushing Boundaries in Cultural and Economic Empowerment.”
Kusasa said he is excited about this year’s edition, noting that preparations are progressing well and they are looking forward to another memorable celebration of Ndau culture and creativity.
“We are excited about this year’s Ndau Arts Festival because preparations have reached an advanced stage and there is a growing sense of anticipation among artists, schools and the wider community.
“The theme: ‘Ndau Creatives Unplugged’, is a reflection of our desire to give local writers and performers a platform to express themselves freely while demonstrating how creativity can contribute to cultural preservation and economic empowerment.
“We want to see artistes pushing boundaries, experimenting with new ideas and using their talents to tell stories that speak to our identity and experiences as the Ndau people.
“Last year’s festival showed us the importance of creating an inclusive space where different generations can participate and learn from one another. The children’s symposium was particularly significant because it opened conversations around the role of the creative arts in bringing young people and the elderly together.
“We intend to build on that experience as the festival grows. Our vision is for Ndau Arts Festival to become an even stronger platform for local talent, while attracting audiences and participants from across the region and beyond.
“We are grateful to the artists, schools, traditional groups and communities that continue to support the festival and help us showcase the richness of Ndau culture.”
Last year’s edition brought a fresh and inclusive dimension to the festival, with organisers deliberately creating space for both children and the elderly to participate in the celebration of the arts.
A major highlight was the introduction of a special symposium for children, which was held at Chikore High School in Chipinge.
The one-day symposium explored the role of creative arts in fostering intergenerational connections and promoting mutual understanding between young people and the elderly.
It formed part of efforts to use the arts, not only as entertainment, but also as a tool for cultural education, dialogue and community development.
The experience added a new dimension to the festival and demonstrated the potential of creative arts to connect generations while encouraging young people to appreciate their cultural heritage.
The main festival was held at the Paiyapo Arts and Culture Development Centre in Bangira Village, Chipinge, which will once again host this year’s celebrations.
NdaFA, a community-based organisation that promotes cultural development on a global scale, continues to use the festival as a platform for showcasing Ndau identity, talent and heritage.
A strong line-up of traditional groups, schools and artistes is expected to add colour to this year’s event.
Those scheduled to participate include Mutendi, Dandaro Vibes, Bon Tee, Marymount Teachers’ College, Gaza Primary and Secondary schools, Chibuwe High School, Rebai Primary School, Muzite Traditional Dance Group, Sikanda, Holland, Bangira, Ndamera and Chiwaraidze.
Seasoned poet, Tinashe Muchuri, is also expected to participate.
The festival’s regional appeal will also be reflected through participation from Mozambique, with traditional dance outfit, Mandava, having previously taken part in the event.
With music, poetry, traditional dance, literature and cultural exchange forming part of its programme, the Ndau Arts Festival is positioning itself as more than an annual celebration.
Kusasa added that the festival is an opportunity to preserve heritage, nurture emerging talent and demonstrate the economic and social potential of the creative arts, while putting Ndau culture on the wider regional and international cultural map.
