Zimpapers Arts and Entertainment Hub
DEVELOPMENT actors, young people, community leaders and creatives from across Bulawayo are set to converge at Nkulumane Hall next week for the inaugural Nkulumane Ideas Festival, a platform aimed at turning community ideas into practical solutions.
Running from October 16 to 17, the festival brings together young people, civil society organisations, Government institutions, businesses, innovators and development partners to discuss the challenges facing the city and explore ways of tackling them together.
According to organisers of the festival, the event will go beyond simply discussing problems faced by youths in the suburb and around Bulawayo, but will instead focus on creating opportunities for partnerships, showcasing solutions and supporting young people already working to improve their communities.
At the heart of the festival is the question: “What are we building together?”
The organisers said young people should not be viewed merely as beneficiaries of development but as entrepreneurs, artists, innovators, professionals, community leaders and problem-solvers capable of shaping Bulawayo’s future.
“Rather than bringing people together simply to talk about problems, the festival seeks to create a space where ideas can meet, communities can connect, solutions can be showcased and partnerships can be built. It champions a simple but practical principle: local solutions for local problems, by the locals, with young people at the centre. It is about moving communities from words to works — from conversations and ideas to practical action, partnerships and measurable results,” the organisers of the festival said in a statement.
The festival will also feature a Youth Marketplace, giving young entrepreneurs, creatives and businesses an opportunity to exhibit, promote and sell their products and services.
The initiative is built around the theme “Buy Youth. Build Local”, encouraging members of the public to support young businesses while creating opportunities for entrepreneurs to connect with potential customers and partners.
Participants will also have access to counselling, psychosocial support and a legal clinic through participating organisations.
The organisers said the festival was designed as a shared platform rather than an event belonging to a single organisation.
In their statement, the organisers said they were inviting young people, community members, businesses, government institutions, civil society organisations, creatives and members of the public to attend, share ideas and support local initiatives.
The festival will take place under the broader call to move “from words to works” by turning community knowledge, ideas and partnerships into practical action.
“Come with an idea. Come with a question. Come ready to connect. Come ready to build,” organisers said.
