HIFA 2008

HIFA 2008: Exhibition Scenes

A sign of the times. Exhibition at the National Art Gallery, Harare, 1 May 2008.

This broken down car is a metaphor for Zimbabwe. Exhibition at the National Art Gallery, Harare, 1 May 2008.

HIFA 2008: Theatre scences

2008 HIFA was remarkable for the consistent message in the music, theatre and poetry – CHANGE and FREEDOM. Two plays Everyday Heroes (directed by Elton Mjanana) and The Two Leaders I know (directed by Cont Mhlanga) explored the contraditions of an independent Zimbabwe.

Kudzai Chimbaira, director of the play Silent Words.

Rani Moorthy wrote and performed in Curry Tales. At the press conference she quipped she was trying to crack the Coca Cola recipe so she could use it in her curry.

A scene from the play, Everyday Heroes.

Elton Mjanana (right), director of Everyday Heroes and also
coordinator of the theatre programme for HIFA 2008.

Zimbabwe theatre legend, Cont Mhlanga (right), chats to poet Chirikure. Mhlanga is the founder of Amakhosi Theatre Productions based in Bulawayo and well known for its plays with biting social commentary.

Another theatre legend, Daves Guzha (left) of Rooftop Promotions, acted in the one-person play The Two Leaders I Know. The play will be running at Theatre-in-the-Park in central Harare from 14 to 24 May 2008.

HIFA 2008: Poetry Scenes

There is a new voice on the Zimbabwean literary scene. It is the poetry of young people who flock to places such as the Book Café in Harare and “verb what they like”. The scene is flourishing and hearing the youth in action is an inspirational moment. HIVOS, the Dutch organisation, presented the Poetry Café at HIFA 2008. Some photos of the action below.

Outspoken (left) and Chirikure Chirikure (right) – both poets at the forefront of the Poetry Movement in Zimbabwe. Chirikure organised the poetry programme at HIFA 2008.

Brave young warriors. Poets for Human Rights are three young people who use the “Word” to mobilise.

HIFA 2008: Music Scenes

Capathia Jenkins and Louis Rosen in concert, Harare Gardens, 1 May 2008. Capathia and Louis (both from the USA) bowled the crowd over with their jazz interpretations of the poety of Nikki Giovanni, Langston Hughes and Maya Angelou. Check out their latest album – One Ounce of Truth – The Nikki Giovanni Songs.

Dobet Gnahore from Cote D’Ivoire gave a memorable performance that you could term “triple play” – a mixture of dance, theatre and music. Her message on HIV/AIDS was unambiguous.

The Coca-Cola Green at HIFA is the space for free concerts,
soul food and just chilling. Transit Crew, one of Zimbabwe’s foremost reggae bands had a jam there on 1 May 2008. Mikey, the Transit lead singer, has never been to Jamaica but speaks deep patois. Reggae remains big in Zimbabwe.

Legendary Zimbabwean guitarist Louis Mhlanga joined in the Transit gig and mesmerised the fans strumming the strings. Louis is based in South Africa.

Max Wild (Max Wild Band), born in Zimbabwe and now living
in the USA, jammed with Sam Mtukudzi (Oliver’s son) and left the audience wanting more. Harare Gardens, 2 May 2008.

Freshly Ground, the South African jazz-pop fusion band, was the highlight of HIFA 2008. The concert was sold out. In solidarity with the people of Zimbabwe they sang Bob Marley’s “Zimbabwe” and it was a very emotional moment for the crowd. The liberator had turned enemy. Harare Gradens, 3 May 2008.

Chiwoniso Maraire, mbira-playerand singer extraordinaire, headlined the opening of HIFA on 29
April 2008.

Editorial: Somethings change, somethings don’t

I am used to mocking the Mazoe Orange Juice advert with the punchline “Something change, somethings don’t”. But although I am not sure if the ever popular Zimbabwean juice has remained the same over the decades, I can vouch for somethings that don’t seem to change and I list them as:

• Harare International Festival of the Arts (HIFA – www.hifa.co.zw) – see explanation below
• Bronte Hotel (how does this place maintain its grace and elegance in the middle of a city wracked by neglect)
• Zimbabweans (“MaZimbo”) – how do they maintain their smiles and civility in the middle of such nonsense?
HIFA is an anomaly in a country collapsing – dubious water that flows intermittently; electricity rationing (polite term is “load-shedding”); pot-holes in which a hippo could take a nice swim; snaking queues for cash at banks; ubiquitous plain-clothes police and informers; and a hysterical statecontrolled media. Started in 1999 by world-renowned pianist Manuel Bagorro, HIFA has grown in leaps and bounds in the short space of nine years. HIFA is a moving feast of dance, theatre, music, poetry, food, drink and just plain
merry-making.
The 2008 HIFA came against a backdrop of major political developments in the country. Results of the presidential election had not yet been announced when the event started (we had waited for a world record of 5 weeks); the rural populace and township dwellers daring to go for a drink in the evenings were being savaged by uniformed soldiers, militia and ruling party thugs; the oppostion had taken over parliament for the first time since 1980; and inflation was roaring unabated towards 200,000 percent. In the midst of all this was HIFA – a world-class event taking place in the Harare Gardens with the 5-star Monomotapa Crowne Plaza Hotel looking over. The music (Freshly Ground, Oliver Mtukudzi, Chiwoniso Maraire); the dance (Tumbuka); drama (The Two Leaders I Know); poetry (Outspoken, Chirikure) and the crowds!! Need I say more?
Just feast on the pictures and see what you missed if you chickened out being in Harare then or simply didn’t know that this miracle exists in the pressure cooker that is Zimbabwe.
Peace.
Chris Kabwato
Special thanks goes out to: NiZA; Farai Mpfunya (Culture Fund); Chipo Muvezwa (Culture Fund); Heeten Bhagat (National Art Gallery of Zimbabwe);
Manuel Bagorro (HIFA); and my understudy, Simba Mudhokwani.

Big up to Zimbabwe in Photos team: Shalen Gajadhar and Levi Kabwato

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SPECIAL EDITION - HIFA 2008

This edition is a special focus on the Harare International Festival of the Arts (www.hifa.co.zw) held from 29 April to 4 May at the Harare Gardens in central Harare. The existence and contination of the festival is testament to the spirit of resilience and hope resident in the people of Zimbabwe. We pay tribute to the artists and managers who made this event possible. We hope that HIFA 2009 will take place in a truly free and
prosperous Zimbabwe.

More Independence Day pictures

On his way out

The people have spoken. These are the last days of Robert Gabriel Mugabe. To drink to his impending exit we show him in all his geriatric glory in the pictures. When South Africans were in exile in Harare people proposed this toast ,“Next time Johannesburg”. We are beginning to propose the toast “Next time Harare”.
We have to begin to re-build our country and we urge all patriots to put their shoulder to the wheel for that real final push for the dictator to go and for the successorgeneration to build a stronger democratic foundation.
Next week we come back with photos from the Harare International Festival of the Arts (HIFA – www.hifa.co.zw).

Best,
Chris Kabwato
Project Coordinator

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