Switch On

Tafadzwa Zimoyo Lifestyle Writer
Its show-time! Switch On! Not your lights, but your cultural appreciation senses.
It is now about a month before the curtain comes up on Zimbabwe’s premier arts showcase, the Harare International Festival of the Arts, but excitement has already started building up among show-goers who know what joys, thrills and spills to expect out of this mammoth fete.
April 29 has been marked in bold on many people’s calendars because of the fun that is anticipated, especially it being the opening night of the festival.

The sight of fireworks illuminating the skies of Harare in their pyrotechnic splendour has become a spectacle not to miss at the Hifa opening and closing nights.

With Hifa being a festival for people of all ages and race, people from all parts of the demographic spectrum are in for a big treat this year not only from the eclectic line-up of performers but also from the originality that Hifa organisers have been introducing over the years.

These are meant to ensure that revellers get value for their money as they can feast on whatever takes their entertainment fancy, courtesy of the numerous partnerships that Hifa organisers have entered into with various corporates.

While last year’s theme, “What Next? ” posed a question of a nation and a people that seemed to be at a crossroads and quite unsure of its future, this year’s theme is quite insistent in its message of hope by challenging both artistes and people in general to “connect” themselves and power up their “batteries” and tackle the future with boldness, confidence and passion while at the same time casting an eye on the present as well as the future.

If anything, this theme is a challenge to people to illuminate the skies of their lives in similar fashion to the fireworks that light up the skyscrapers of Harare in a bold statement.

Hifa executive director, Maria Wilson, could not have put it better when she noted that this year’s theme was aimed at bringing out the potential that artistes and Zimbabweans in general have in their various spheres.

“Basically we are saying people are full of talent which they need to switch on, so that it can become visible,” she said.
It is also in the same vein that Hifa decided to “switch on” on its activities by introducing a new board of vibrant members who include former Harare Mayor Muchadeyi Masunda, the new board chair who brings in administrative experience to the festival.

But for most of us the best news is that founder Manuel Bogorro, the man of sartorial impeccability with a perchance for enticing diverse world performers to come to Zimbabwe, returns in his capacity as the artistic director.

Previous editions have brought African giants like Angelique Kijo and Salif Keita to the country.
The five-day festival, with a number of exciting local and international artistes billed, is bound to take show-goers on a rollercoaster of fun.
Artistes from as far afield as Russia are expected to grace the festival in similar fashion as the previous years.

Susan Jenkins of Belvedere a show-goer since 2009, believes that this year’s line-up is superb and insists that she is going to attend a good number of the performances.

“It is said this year’s edition is bigger and better and as per tradition, I am going to take out my family and friends to Hifa and have the time of our lives,” she said.

Susan (42) said last year she enjoyed performances by the female artistes who showed something of their creative side and she said she was hoping the same would characterise this year’s edition.

“There were some fascinating female musicians and poets at stands such as Hivos and this is what we are really looking forward to,” she added.
Clara Mahuni (16) of Mbare says she looks forward  to performances by local urban and dance hall musicians as well as activities specially lined up for the young in the youth zone.

“Last year there were some musical groups from some schools and they were really good. Then there is stuff like fashion shows and painting walls. It’s really great and I will be there with my friends.”

Another plus of Hifa is its Hifa Amigos initiative, which they put in place to create a hassle-free environment for show-goers, supporters and patrons.

“HifAmigos gives lovers of arts and culture, dance, theatre, music and poetry an opportunity to take full advantage of all that the Harare International Festival of the Arts has to offer.

“Becoming a hifAmigo means exclusive perks, privileges and special benefits, throughout the six exhilarating days of the Festival and for the year that the subscription is valid. HifAmigos are a highly valued and important component of the Festival. HIFA 2014 invites you to become a member of the HifAmigos and be a special part of this cultural revolution,” reads at statement posted by the organisers explaining the benefits of this initiative.

With Delta Beverages, Lays, Hivos, BancABC, Old Mutual and Star FM among others being part of the sponsors and partners of the event, the festival has evolved into a supreme arts showcase that grown to be a global event to reckon with, creating employment for local artistes and Zimbabweans in general.

Because of its global nature, the festival has also acted a cultural and artistic bridge that has brought together nations and people of all walks of life.

It has promoted peace and unity through art as people from different parts of the world come together interact and exchange ideas for the betterment of their different backgrounds and communities in an artistic way.

This has been realised through the workshops and other programmes showcased at the festival.
It will run from April 29 to May 4.

“We are looking forward to an exciting festival and this year is different because of involvement of much women and street youths. Meaning that they are given an opportunity to shine which is a good move as this will increase the gate takings because many people would want to know how they are performing,” said Terrence Zikato of Sunningdale.