Intwasa opening night specials

20 Sep, 2015 - 01:09 0 Views

The Sunday News

Ngqwele Dube Sunday Leisure Correspondent
THE opening night of the Intwasa Arts Festival koBulawayo has always been one of the top attractions, setting the tone for the rest of the acts that would follow. This year the opening night is on Wednesday at the Ingwebu Stage (Main Stage, City Hall Car Park) and people can expect a mouth-watering treat as Siyaya’s Mambazo Phiri and renowned choreographer, Richard Ndlovu have been tasked with producing the main act that usually involves local artistes.

After producing world class opening and closing performances at the African Union Sports Council Region Five Under-20 Youth Games at Barbourfields Stadium last year, the two acclaimed arts practitioners are brewing a captivating show that is set to keep audiences engrossed in the festival without stealing the thunder from the rest of the acts.
The annual multi-disciplinary arts fiesta kicks off tomorrow and runs until Saturday under the theme, “My Intwasa, Your Intwasa, Our Intwasa.”

Phiri said the opening night would bring focus on the country’s traditional songs and dances.
He said they were taking traditional songs and presenting them in a new, modern way that appeals to a wider audience.
Phiri did not reveal much on the show urging people to attend the opening act.

Intwasa director Raisedon Baya said they had settled on Phiri and Ndlovu because of the superb acts they came up with during the Region Five Games and collaborating on a presentation in Milan, Italy.

“The act in Milan involved traditional songs and dances and we feel that it is something they can improve on, tweak and present to the Intwasa audience. We will be spicing it up with a performance by Afrika Revenge, which we feel is one of the biggest attractions of the festival,” he said.

Afrika Revenge is one of the country’s most celebrated music groups to come out of Bulawayo although the duo, Mehluli Moyo and Willis Wataffi had parted ways for close to eight years, their reunion early this year has got arts lovers itching to watch them on stage and they will be performing in the city for the first time after kissing and making up.
Baya said between 60 to 70 percent of the festival audience was made up of local people hence the need to feature top local acts to make it a true Bulawayo festival.

Other shows festival goers can look forward to include Women, Wine, Words on Tuesday at the National Art Gallery in Bulawayo featuring Lady Tshawe, Deanna Rodger, Francesca Beard, One Stand Band and Tinashe Tafirenyika among others while Comedy Night will bring out the laughter with Clive Chigubhu, Doc Vikela, Q The Boss and Keith Nkosi set to tickle people’s ribs with their jokes on Saturday at the Bulawayo Theatre.

The popular Bulawayo Show will also be part of the act, and will be beamed at the Bulawayo Club on Friday evening with the Acoustic Night seeing performances being delivered by Tariro Negitare, Fungai Nengare, Munyaradzi Nyamarebvu and Prayersoul among others.

Iyasa will present Celebrate Africa, an adaptation of a show they presented in their recent tour of Europe while other artists expected to feature at the festival include Jeys Marabini, Ndolwane Super Sounds, Clement Magwaza, Kupenya Stars, Diana Samkange, Umkhathi Theatre and One Stand Band.

Zimdancehall kingpin, Winky D is also expected to headline the DJs Ultimate Battle at the Large City Hall on Friday night.

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