New Zimbabwean arts fest launched
Zimbabwean arts company Bumris Entertainment officially launched a new festival in Harare on Wednesday. The inaugural edition of the Zimbabwe Arts Festival (ZARTS) will be held at Alexandra Sports Club in the country’s capital on 8 and 9 December, the organisers said.
Running under the theme Loving Zim Art, the event will include music, spoken word, graphic design and martial arts performances and exhibitions. On the line-up are Oliver Mtukudzi, Jah Prayzah, Winky D, Sulumani Chimbetu, Ammara Brown, Mbira Dzenharira, Ex Q, Trevor Dongo, Dhadza D, Tocky Vibes, MC Chita, Xtra Large and others.
The founder and director of Bumris Entertainment, Rumbidzai Mudenge, told Music In Africa that the idea to hold a new festival was triggered by her love for Zimbabwean art.
“It was influenced by Zimbabwean artists and the people of Zimbabwe,” she said. “As an artist myself I observed how the majority of Zimbabweans don’t have exposure to our own home-grown talent. We are unaware of the vast amount of achievements our Zimbabwean artists have made and are spreading globally. I want us to honour and respect our proudly Zimbabwean artworks and have a huge two-day celebration dedicated to art.”
Zimbabwe already boasts the Harare International Festival of the Arts (HIFA), which caters for the creative disciplines incorporated by Mudenge’s ZARTS. Asked about what audiences could expect at ZARTS, Mudenge said: “The difference between HIFA and ZARTS is that our festival is solely for the promotion and celebration of Zimbabwean artists only. Our management and ZARTS team is also only proudly comprised of Zimbabweans.
“I want us to honour and respect our proudly Zimbabwean artworks and have a huge two-day celebration dedicated to them. This festival is deliberately only for Zimbabwean artists in the country and in the diaspora to showcase their achievements.”
Mudenge said she had a long-term vision for the festival and would want to see it grow from strength to strength. She has already secured sponsorships from the private sector and is in talks with the Zimbabwean government to bolster the event’s budget. She said ZARTS had already struck deals with the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation and Radio Zimbabwe, which would be the event’s official media partners.
“In five years ZARTS must be the home to all Zimbabwean artists around the world. They should come home on this occasion and showcase their talent on Zimbabwean. It will be a platform where Zimbabweans exhibit their great achievements of the year and a platform where newly found talent is nurtured and developed.”
ZARTS tickets are available on the Web Tickets website and can be physically purchased at the Bumris Entertainment headquarters on the 12th floor at Joina City mall in Harare.
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