Sadc Summit a spotlight on Zimbabwe’s art and cuisine

THE countdown is on. With just a month to go before the 44th Southern African Development Community (Sadc) Summit explodes onto the scene in Harare, various industries are buzzing with anticipation. Among them, the Cultural and Creative Industries (CCIs) are gearing up for a unique opportunity — to showcase the best of Zimbabwean talent to regional leaders and their delegations.

The upcoming Sadc Summit presents a chance to paint a more vibrant picture of the nation.

The burning question: what does this prestigious event mean for Zimbabwe’s art and culture scene?

Taking a cue from the Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry, Barbara Rwodzi, its clear there’s a treasure trove waiting to be unveiled. During a recent media engagement in Harare, Minister Rwodzi stressed the importance of showcasing Zimbabwe’s rich entertainment scene and delectable culinary delights to the esteemed visitors.

“We are talking of where they (regional leaders and their delegations) are going to be eating, the entertainment they will see on offer and things like that because others will come and ask for Zimbabwean cuisine while others might want Portuguese, Italian, and other cuisines etc so all things need to be arranged, even issues pertaining to night life,” she said.

Chief among some of the points of interests she alluded to was the Zimbabwean sound which might be a darling to many. Her speech hinted on musicians being invited to perform for a new audience outside of their locale.

“Local artistes should also be engaged because we need to have events like jazz night or cultural night because we do not want them to think Harare is a sleepy place,” said Minister Rwodzi.

In the African context, music and food play a significant role and is an important part of the social fabric and with the Sadc Summit being a regional engagement, one would think artistes from the four corners of Zimbabwe will be afforded the chance to showcase what they can do to a regional audience.

So, the Sadc Summit, to be held under the theme, “Promoting Innovation to Unlock Opportunities for Sustainable Growth and Development Towards an Industrialised Sadc,” doesn’t just speak to economic beneficiation, but rather a multi-faceted approach to a harmonious Sadc with a shared vision and goal for the bloc.

It is a window of opportunity for Zimbabwe as the host nation to stand up and be counted among the 16 member states.

Under the visionary leadership of the First Lady, Her Excellency, Dr Amai Auxillia Mnangagwa and her cookout competition, the country portends crucial potential for regional leaders and their delegations to enjoy local cuisine and push our traditional gastronomy.

For fashion designers, the Summit presents a perfect opportunity for them to flex using the National Dress Fabric (NDF) which is a colourful and patriotic way of celebrating being Zimbabwean.

In an interview, the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe (NACZ) Director Napoleon “Napster” Nyanhi urged local creatives to take advantage of the Summit to up the ante on their brands.

“The Sadc Summit is a rare and precious opportunity that our creatives should seriously take advantage of. Most of our creatives are looking for a penetration strategy into the international markets, a regional audience will be a good starting point. The Summit presents an opportunity where regional decision makers are in our country. If only we can be able to sell the beauty of our arts and crafts, we would have opened a window into multiple African countries at once.

“I would like to urge local creatives to come up with artistic work around Africa and the Summit. We can tell the African story our Zimbabwean way. Musicians can compose songs, poets can come up with poems, sculptors, skits and fashion designs that celebrate Zimbabwe as a host of this Summit. Culinary experts have the opportunity to popularise our dishes in the region. As August approaches, I urge the sector to be prepared to present our highest standard,” he said.

Local acts tend not to get the garlands they deserve, but the Sadc Summit presents them with a perfect opportunity to be seen on a regional scale. They should show their artistic prowess in word and deed. – Follow on X @MbuleloMpofu