Online Reporter
Mthabisi Tshuma, [email protected]
THE Phinifa Festival returns for its second edition on August 15, promising a bigger and more vibrant celebration of culture, fashion, food and entrepreneurship.
The women-only event will be held under the theme, “Phinifa and Apron on Fleek”, placing the spotlight on cultural attire and culinary excellence.
Festival founder Nobukhosi N Hlahla said the event, which made its debut last year, was established to preserve Zimbabwe’s cultural heritage while providing a platform for women to showcase their talents, businesses and creativity.
“The festival provides a platform for showcasing cultural attire, traditional cuisine, arts, talent and the rich diversity of our communities while promoting social and economic empowerment. This year’s theme, ‘Phinifa and Apron on Fleek’, highlights the beauty of cultural fashion and culinary excellence, encouraging participants to embrace their heritage with style, confidence and creativity,” Hlahla said. The idea behind the festival, Hlahla said, was inspired by a desire to reconnect younger generations with their cultural roots.
“The festival was born out of a desire to preserve and celebrate our cultural heritage while creating a platform that brings people together across generations. I observed that many cultural traditions, values and practices were gradually being overlooked, particularly by younger generations.
“The Phinifa Festival was therefore established to promote cultural pride, encourage inter-generational learning and provide a space where communities can celebrate their identity through food, fashion, art, music and storytelling,” she said.
One of the main attractions at this year’s festival will be a cultural fashion showcase featuring participants dressed in both traditional and contemporary cultural attire representing different communities.
She added that although the festival is exclusively for women, it welcomes participants of all ages, creating a space where different generations can celebrate culture together.
“The event is open to all age groups, making it a truly inter-generational festival where children, youth, adults and elders can participate, learn from one another and celebrate together.”
Building on the success of last year’s inaugural edition, organisers are expanding the programme to make this year’s event more inclusive, engaging and impactful.
“This year’s edition will be bigger and more inclusive than the inaugural event. We’re expanding participation, introducing new activities and placing greater emphasis on showcasing cultural fashion and culinary creativity.”
She said the inaugural festival received overwhelming support from the community and exceeded organisers’ expectations.
“Participants appreciated the opportunity to celebrate their culture, showcase their talents and connect with others in a meaningful way. The enthusiasm and support we received inspired us to continue growing the festival.”
