The Sunday Mail
THE Harare International Festival of the Arts (Hifa) is Zimbabwe’s biggest arts jamboree and most Zimbabweans’ preferred festival.
By Chipo Basopo – Leisure Correspondent
Arts enthusiasts, artistes and fun lovers, wait every year with bated breath for the week-long festival, which takes a few days from the end of April and a few others from beginning of May, to see, take part in or simply enjoy whatever dish that the organisers would have prepared for that year.
Hifa is a platform to see new things, get fresh ideas, meet new friends, network and explore business opportunities. At this Hifa, which was awfully expensive for me, my family and friends – I did manage to do a few things and below is my experience.
Dance
I watched DFC students with their production “Collisions”, a contemporary dance piece and Tumbuka’s “We Were Made Men”. Both performance pieces depicted the same things. Tumbuka, whose work was created by Snoden Filimon, drew their story from the choreographer’s own life experience, and those of the dancers, whose upbringing forced them to become adults at a very young age. The work explores how the traits and attitudes of childhood persist under the surface of the adult persona.
On the other hand, DFC explored it at a national level, narrating, through dance, what Zimbabwe has gone through as a nation, the situation in 2008 when people had to queue in every line for every commodity.
However, both shows were very energetic, breathtaking and suitable for lovers of dance. The last part of DFC’s show where a soloist, Jackie Manyaapelo performed was an anti climax as it came after a vibrant energetic performance.
Coca-Cola Green
For years, festival goers have known Coca-Cola Green to be “The Place”. Most people would just hustle hard for the general entry ticket and every year Hifa never disappointed, as it kept them entertained and happy. The Coca-Cola Green arena defines what Hifa is – the true festival spirit resides there and people know that.
But not this year – people who could not afford to buy tickets to attend other shows elsewhere were left to rue their decision to attend at all. Besides that there were no good performances, the sound at the Coca-Cola Green was very poor.
Maybe that is why there were so many school bands and very few professional upcoming or established Zimbabwean groups that people have gotten accustomed to. Please bring back the vibrancy of Coca-Cola Green – it is the heart of the festival.
Youth Zone
I am so particular and passionate about children and young people. I took some time to visit the Youth Zone and even took some of my children (from Chipawo) there, so that they could enjoy the jumping castle, face painting, sketch board, drawing and entertainment from various schools and groups.
The Youth Zone is quite enjoyable for the kids, but what value is it adding to the festival? By now we should have seen young musicians and poets, next generation artistes that have graduated from the Youth Zone.
Is there monitoring at all on some of the activities done in the Youth Zone? Which age group is the festival targeting? How polished are the acts that are showcased? I work with children and I believe that the Youth Zone, besides being a playground, should also groom the young artistes to be the next stars at Reps Theatre, Standard Theatre or even Global Stage before eventually graduating to the Main Stage and Coca-Cola Green.
The Youth Zone should be a mini Hifa. There should be a cute “Opening Show” before the official opening in the evening, where the children and young people will have a sense of belonging. When are we going to start noticing the importance of the children and the need to start working with them now?
Believe you me they have a lot to offer and they are a delight to watch in action. I believe we need to “articulate” the Youth Zone so that the change will take place in 2016. Zimbabwe, we are one big family that supports each other, lets invest in our young people.
◆ Chipo Basopo is the manager of Chipawo Zimbabwe. She works with children as little as three-years-old, thus she is passionate about children and young people.
