Thank you Bulawayo for embracing Intwasa

04 Oct, 2015 - 01:10 0 Views
Thank you Bulawayo for embracing Intwasa (pic by KB Mpofu)

The Sunday News

Bulawayo residents have finally warmed up to the idea that Intwasa is theirs (pic by KB Mpofu)

Bulawayo residents have finally warmed up to the idea that Intwasa is theirs (pic by KB Mpofu)

Raisedon Baya
THE 2015 edition of Intwasa Arts Festival is now done and dusted and as always the festival was a six-day marathon of performances, discussions, crafts, poetry, fashion, and edutainment.

From an organisational point of view this year’s edition was a runaway success. Audiences came in their numbers and as they say numbers don’t lie. For a week or so the streets of Bulawayo and social media platforms were abuzz with news about Intwasa — a different scenario from a few years ago.

It looks like Bulawayo residents have finally warmed up to the idea that the festival is theirs and its growth and success depends on them embracing it. The growth of the festival is evident in the huge numbers that turned out, particularly at the main stage which is situated at the City Hall Car Park.

Daily the main stage played host to thousands of people who thronged the Car Park for festival activities.

As Bulawayo continues to embrace the festival it is our hope that residents of the city do not try to confine the festival’s growth and vision to the geography of the city or Matabeleland.

The festival is a growing space. It must be seen and treated as a national space critical to the democratisation of culture and cultural spaces in the country.

It is also important to see Intwasa as an important space for the celebration of diversity — yes, diversity in all its forms and meaning. A growing and critical cultural space like Intwasa evidently needs more support from corporates, local Government, artistes and anyone who believes in the important role the arts can play in marketing and development of the city of Bulawayo and Zimbabwe in general.

The 2015 programme had exciting performances and events. Most of the events were on point and worth every cent festival goers paid for them. One or two were bad, disappointing to say the least. But that’s to be expected of any big festival.

The talents exhibited this year were both diverse and exceptional, dovetailing well with the theme of the festival; My Intwasa, Your Intwasa, Our Intwasa. The talents varied from music, dance, poetry, to literary arts, fashion, craft and theatre.

Out of the more than 50 events planned only a few were cancelled due to various reasons. The Almasi play reading festival was cancelled as the company could not travel. It was the same with the Botswana play Today It’s Me. The actors got stuck in Kenya where they had travelled for some performances. The choral music competition for both primary and secondary schools was put on hold as there were too few schools who had registered for the competition.

The Live Literature Project run by Centre for Talent Development was a runaway success. It was oversubscribed as schools came from as far as Lupane, Plumtree and Gwanda for the dramatisation of literature setbooks and because of the huge numbers some schools had to be turned away. Pupils who attended the shows expressed satisfaction, some even going to the extent of saying it was money well spent.

Comedy Night, Intwasa Fashion Show, Women, Wine and Words, The Poetry Slam and the Winky D show had good numbers; obviously making everyone in the organising team excited about the future of the festival. The challenge is now for local artistes to produce good content enough to keep festival goers excited and to continue coming to the festival.

As we shift towards the 2016 edition it is important to take time to acknowledge and thank everyone who contributed to the success of the 2015 edition — thank you to the festival funding partners, the festival organising committee, service providers, the wonderful artistes that gave it all and to everyone, particularly residents of Bulawayo, who came out in their numbers to be part of this growing festival called Intwasa Arts Festival koBulawayo.

See you in 2016. Siyabonga!

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