Zimpapers Logo

Showbiz Correspondent
IT’S six days before the Intwasa Arts Festival KoBulawayo  kicks off and artistes are raring to go.
This year’s edition, meant to provide a good dose of theatre, music, dance, story-telling, poetry, juggling, impersonation and comedy from the region, will start  next week and run for five days from September 23 to 27.
It will be different from the previous editions as both organisers and festival goers will be celebrating the festival’s 10th anniversary, hence the theme “Unforgettable”.

The first day of the festival has been dedicated to art and theatre with a play – The Lion and the Jewel showing twice at the Bulawayo Theatre.

Another production, Mbiko kaMadlenya, will also show at the theatre with a Women, Words and Wine poetry and musical show taking place at the National Gallery of Zimbabwe in Bulawayo.

Afro soul musician Thandy Dlana, female imbube group Nobuntu, poets Sithandazile Dube and Nomakhosazana “Zana K” Ncube are billed to perform.

Eight theatre productions – Umbiko KaMadlenya, Dancing Queen, Colour of Hope, For Generations, She and He, The Importance of being Earnest, A Thousand Miles and The Lion and The Jewel – will showcase at the Bulawayo Theatre throughout the festival.

The festival, which seeks to embrace and celebrate the different cultures and expressions found in Zimbabwe, will be officially opened on the second day – September 24 at the Chibuku stage at the Large City Hall car park. Bambelela, Siyaya, Amakhosi Centre for Talent Development, SPAA, Qeqeshiwe Mntambo and Ezimnyama Dance Troupe among others are billed to entertain guests at the official opening.

Early in the day, the popular Plan High Schools drama competition finals will be held at the Bulawayo Theatre. Children from more than 10 schools will converge at the schools drama competition and battle it out for the top spot.

Workshops and discussions on combating piracy, craft fairs, plays, children’s dance competitions and public speaking events will be held on September 25. Other workshops which will be held during the festival include Arts as a Business, Young Writers’ Workshop and Teaching Artists’ Platform.

A Spring Jazz Show will also be held on September 25 at the Rainbow Hotel with soulful songstress Tariro Negitare expected to headline the show.

She will be supported by the Outfit Band, Cool Crooners and Jam Signal. On the same night the highly anticipated DJs Battle will be held with local wheel spinners battling it out for the top prize.

Another highlight of the festival will be the Bayethe Bulawayo Concert to be held on September 26 at the Large City Hall. The concert will feature performances from Dendera king – Sulumani Chimbetu, Martin and Ndolwane Super Sounds, Sandra Ndebele, Iyasa and Albert Nyathi among others.

A hip hop vs kwaito clash will also be held. Earlier in the day, play lovers will be treated to a master class play creation by Kurt Egeholf from South Africa.

A CoFFashion Pop Up fashion show, martial arts displays, drum majorettes and a Dance Extravaganza featuring Iyasa and Umkhathi will be the main highlights on the last day of the festival. Comedians Ntando Van Moyo and Babongile Sikhonjwa will headline the Comedy Night which will be held later in the day.

Intwasa has always sought to be a public festival for community development and participation. The festival seeks to promote Bulawayo as a cultural and tourist destination.