All Roads lead to HIFA

as 13th edition of arts fiesta roars into life......
Harare will tonight reverberate into song and dance when Zimbabwe’s biggest arts premier arts extravaganza — the Harare. International Festival of the Arts — starts.

The six-day fiesta, which seems to be getting better and bigger every year, will undoubtedly enchant art enthusiasts, who for six days would be treated to first class performances, what with a whopping 197 artists who are expected to grace the event.

A host of local, regional and international artistes and an array of cultural exhibitions will be showcased through the mediums of theatre, dance, music, street performance, spoken word, craft and the visual arts. Running under the theme, “A Show of Spirit”, Hifa’s opening night will feature several artistes in a spectacular performance that will naturally resonate with this year’s theme.

Hifa artistic director Manuel Bagorro said Hifa affords artistes an opportunity to present their finest work for the broadest possible audience. “Because of what we are trying to achieve and what we have always believed in, this year's event will be awesome, exhilarating and indeed it will be a show of spirit,” he enthused.

Now in its 13th year, this year’s Hifa like an exuberant teenager, it will certainly be full of life, judging by the array of international artistes who will create the vibes through their top-rated performances.

The beauty about Hifa is that there is always something for everyone, whether you like to sprain your ankle imitating some ballet dance, or you just want to enjoy your cheese and wine, while listening to some opera music, either way, you will get a good dosage of what the doctor ordered.

Some of the events to look forward include the premiere of more than 20 plays that will feature high-flying local and international casts that include Patrice Naimban, Juwon Ongungbe, Zimbabwean actress Marian Kunonga and United States Zimbabwean-based artiste, Danai Gurira. Danai is coming home to present her latest production, ECLIPSED, which won the best new play at the 2010 Helen Hayes Awards.

The play has been performed in the US and had its African premier in South Africa. On the other hand, opera lovers will be treated to a coterie of American soap stars that include Laquita Mitchel (soprano), Camille Zamora (tenor and baritone) Lester Lynch, who are billed to perform tomorrow at the Telecel Main Stage.

On the dance front, there will be a live sessions, Live Vibe, that will feature six local dance troupes. Yet another contemporary dance piece dubbed Between the lines that was done Harold George and Jazz Tap Ensemble will be part of the fun. As has become the norm, musical performances are also expected to take centre stage, where a number of artistes will take to the stage to showcase their talent, albeit in different genres.

Some of the genres that have been afforded space this year include mbira, reggae, urban grooves, samba, salsa and katekwe music, that will be lead by Zimbabwe’s granddad of music, Oliver Mtukudzi, who together with Senegalese music legend Ismael Lo, will bring the curtain down on Sunday night.
Before them, a Johannesburg-based outfit Tumi and the Volume would have warmed up the stage for them, and their efforts will be complemented by a host of musicians, who include mbira princess Hope Masike, Edith WeUtonga, Stunner, Baba Shupi, Winky D and reggae crooner Mic Inity.

South African guitarist Derek Gripper, an artiste whose compositions demonstrate an extensive musical diversity, will also grace the event at Lays Global Stage on CABS and Coca-Cola Days.
Poetry lovers have not been left out and will also have their space at the event, where a number of poets will chant their poems during the Spoken Word segment.

The likes of Fungai Machirori, Chiedza Msengezi, Tinashe Muchuri, Memory Chirere and Gerald Mugweni will be among a pool of Zimbabwean poets, expected to be part of the thrills of poetry. Herald