Intwasa organisers seek redemption

03 Dec, 2017 - 02:12 0 Views
Intwasa organisers seek redemption

The Sunday News

Carl Joshua Ncube

Bhekumuzi Ncube, Sunday Life Reporter
INTWASA festival is back with another annual arts feast, Intwasa Extra, which is set to win public support with its star-studded line up. The four-day event will take centre stage from 28 to 31 December.

Intwasa Extra is a spill over programme from the main Intwasa Arts Festival koBulawayo that takes place every year during the month of September in Bulawayo.

The four-day arts extravaganza will take place under the theme “Celebrating a New Era” and is basically a festive season festival bonus prepared especially for regular festival audiences and those that missed the September festival.

Intwasa Press liaison Raisedon Baya said Intwasa Extra is aimed at celebrating human creativity and diversity, to empower women and young people through the arts, to provide new markets and collaborative opportunities for local artistes and technical people as well as welcome the new era Zimbabwe had just entered.

“Intwasa organisers are also using this opportunity to bring the comedy night which, due to unforeseen circumstances did not take place in September. But most importantly it is to celebrate Zimbabwean people’s resilience against hardship and welcoming the new feeling of hope that has engulfed the country. Intwasa Extra is using about six arts genres, namely theatre, music, poetry, comedy, dance and arts and craft to celebrate with the rest of the country,” he said.

Baya said the opening day of the event will see a special comedy night dubbed The Night of Great Comedy. The promising event will see a strong line-up of local comedians who, throughout the year, have been at the top of their game pushing the genre of comedy in and outside Zimbabwe.

“The impressive line-up includes the globe-trotting and trend setting Carl Joshua Ncube, the evergreen Doc Vikela, the Bulawayo Arts Awards comedian of the year Ntando Van Moyo, Mandla Simbarashe and Skhanyiso. The growth of comedy in Zimbabwe has mainly been driven by some of the comedy in the line-up. Expect new jokes and fireworks. Watch them live as Bulawayo counts down the year 2017,” he said.

Ihloka play which premièred at this year’s Intwasa Festival is set to be yet again performed by Umkhathi Theatre. The play was written by Thabani Hillary Moyo and directed by Matesu Dube.

Baya said the play was included by Intwasa Extra due to public demand.

“Ihloka is a sensationally provocative and emotive piece inspired by the Ndebele uprising against Cecil John Rhodes and white colonialists. It is back by popular demand and a must see for those that love a powerful story,” he said.

A new play titled The Arrangement is set to be premièred on 30 December at Bulawayo Theatre.

The play is Baya’s fast-paced and witty re-imagination of Ganesh Bagshi’s 1960’s story about young love and the fear of commitment.

The play was set in Zimbabwe and is imaginatively brought to life by a young and dynamic cast under the Centre for Talent Development.

However, the highlight of this extravaganza is the ever popular Women, Wine & Words with a new line-up of lead performers in the form of guitarist Tariro Negitare, rising stars Thandi Dlana, and poets Xtreme, So Profound and Harare-based poet Wadzanai Chiuriri.

Rounding up the programme is the Arts and Craft Market, designed for those who are looking for something uniquely Zimbabwean to buy for family and friends.

Last but not least is the Open Mic Poetry session mainly for young and aspiring poets. The poetry is in partnership with Arts Hub Zimbabwe and Patsime Trust. The open mic is open to all young poets who want to present a piece or two.

Seasoned poets such as Sypho, Asa, Izwi, Afro and Madzitateguru will feature as guest poets on the platform. The theme of the poetry slam will be “My Zim Vision” and DJ Battle is set to perform on the eve of 2018.

Baya thanked the support and generosity of Open Society Initiative of Southern Africa (OSISA) who have contributed to make Intwasa Extra possible.

@NcubeBhekumuzi

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