The Sunday News
Fairness Moyana in Hwange
THE 13th edition of the Shangano Arts Festival roared to life yesterday with a training programme of female artistes meant to create a platform for their emancipation and involvement in arts in the region.
The festival is a provincial mobile arts showcase that creates a platform for the exhibition and celebration of the rich cultural diversity found in Matabeleland North.
According to the director of the festival, Mr Petros Ndhlovu, the two-day festival which was hosted by Hwange District started off on a high note with a first ever training of female artistes.
“The festival is running for two days after having started off with a first ever training of female artistes who were taken through leadership and theatre skills. The training also gave the artistes a platform to discuss and interrogate issues that affect their emancipation in realising their talents. We also had a session to create awareness on certain provisions of the constitution that speak to the empowerment of women as well as cervical cancer,” said Mr Ndhlovu.
He said there was a realisation that female artistes were being sidelined when it came to participation in the development of arts in the region.
“What we realised is that women have been left behind in many programmes so as Shangano Arts Festival Trust we decided to involve them so that they contribute freely towards the arts industry. This is also a way for us to appreciate and address the challenges that female artistes face in realising their talents. We believe that the province is loaded in terms of talent.”
Mr Ndhlovu said various activities that include threatre, music, poetry and puppetry were lined up during the course of the festival. Various artistes such as Vulindlela, Shakativu, Gule waMukulu, Pezhuba Pachena, Boomslang, Penpusher, Ras Fidzo, Malasha Moto, and Children Performing Arts among others.
“We are, however, facing serious challenges in terms of resources, though we wanted to bring groups from all the districts of Matabeleland North Province, we were not able to do that this year. We are appealing to the corporate world to assist us so that we can fulfil the objectives of the festival that entails creating a platform for the celebration of cultural diversity we enjoy here in the province,” he said.
