Victoria Falls artistes set sights on annual Chief Shana Festival

THE Victoria Falls Artists Assembly is moving to entrench the Chief Shana Festival as an annual cultural highlight after a successful inaugural edition that united creatives from across Hwange District.

First held on May 25 last year at the late Chief Shana’s homestead, the festival celebrated the life and legacy of the traditional leader while providing a platform for local artistes to showcase their talents.

The event marked a milestone for the arts community, bringing together performers, cultural groups and individual creatives from Victoria Falls, Hwange and surrounding rural areas in a rare display of unity.

Buoyed by the positive reception, the assembly, which represents 23 groups and individual artistes across various genres, has begun preparations to make the second edition bigger and more impactful.

Africa Day has now been adopted as the festival’s permanent date, cementing its place on the cultural calendar.
As part of the planning process, the artistes recently met traditional leaders from Jambezi and nearby communities to strengthen partnerships and ensure broader community involvement.

The initiative also reflects a deliberate effort by local artistes to create their own platforms amid long-standing concerns that they are often overlooked at public events in favour of entertainers brought in from other cities.

Outgoing chairperson of the Victoria Falls Artists Assembly, Ndabezinhle Sibanda, said collaboration had proven key to the festival’s success.

“As artistes, we need to grow. We want to be visible on the ground and across media platforms so we can reach more people,” he said.

Sibanda noted that while the past year had brought opportunities, some artistes still struggled to secure stage time, making home-grown initiatives such as the Chief Shana Festival critical.

“The Chief Shana project forms part of our success story. Groups are still recovering from the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, and it’s up to us to make this work. We started engaging traditional leaders early and will continue holding monthly meetings to ensure we are fully prepared for May 25,” he said.

Last year’s event also attracted regional attention after Zambia’s Chief Mukuni attended and later invited the artistes to his kraal during his inauguration as king, a development Sibanda said underscored the festival’s growing stature.
“This year, we want to make the event even bigger,” he added.

Beyond the festival, the assembly is working to forge partnerships with both public and private sector players to strengthen the creative economy in Victoria Falls. Long-term plans include launching a broader Victoria Falls Festival to showcase artists from all disciplines and celebrating key cultural dates throughout the year.

“By 2026, we want to be more visible and organised. Ultimately, we aim to have a Victoria Falls Day that celebrates our local talent,” said Sibanda.

“Sometimes artists feel exploited, but we also need to understand that there are moments when we must work together for the good of the community.”