Preparations
for the 12th edition of Chimanimani Arts Festival, which takes place from
August 10 to 12, have gathered momentum with organisers optimistic this year’s
edition will be better than previous ones.
The
festival is Zimbabwe’s biggest free-entry arts fete, renowned for its unique
presentation of various art genres from music, dance, and theatre to drumming,
comedy and storytelling.
It has in the past featured prominent local and international artistes as well as emerging local acts.
Speaking from her Harare base festival director Chido Musasiwa-Gutu confirmed preparations for the festival are taking shape. She said the festival was a way of bringing people that rarely see artists in action together in a scenic setting.
“Chimanimani Arts Festival is one of a kind in Zimbabwe, probably in the region,” said Musasiwa-Gutu.
“Where else would you get such a cross-sectional mingling of people converged on a village green against the backdrop of majestic mountains, enjoying all types of art forms performed by polished artistes — and all totally free of charge?”
She, however, appealed to corporate and individual well-wishers to come forward and support the multi-disciplinary arts gala whose theme for 2012 is “One Love-One-Nation-Peace!”
Tadiwa Muparutsa of Global Arts Trust, consultants to the festival, also called for support.
“We’re counting on the generosity and benevolence of our partners to help us reach our funding target as we do every year since Chimanimani is a non-commercial, not-for-profit, free-entry festival,” said Muparutsa.
“We still need funding for various levels of the festival programme, but we’re confident of competently staging the festival as we’ve done every year. We call on well-wishers to chip in with the financial assistance to make the event a resounding success.
“I believe over the years our partner organisations have realised positive results from their association with the festival and Chimanimani (festival) has definitely grown to become an event with a place on the national and regional arts calendar.”
He said the festival’s partners that had so far shown interest in sponsoring this year’s event were National Arts Council of Zimbabwe, Pamberi Trust, British Council, Alliance Francaise, Hivos, Eunic, Doltek, Londoner’s Sports Bar, Let Them Trust, Chido Advertising Pvt Ltd, Spinfest and Culture Fund Trust of Zimbabwe.
Musasiwa-Gutu said free developmental workshops on various arts genres facilitated by experts are also due to be held at several venues as part of the festival.
The organisers are hosting a promotional music gig on June 30 at Londoner’s Sports Bar, Strathaven, featuring some of this year’s headline acts from Harare which include Chiwoniso Maraire, Ba Shupi, Dino Mudondo, Chikwata 263, Junior Bantan, Tehn Diamond, Josh Meck, Dadza D and Apple T among others.
Musasiwa-Gutu emphasised that 60% of the acts participating in the festival were from Chimanimani, Mutare and other parts of Manicaland Province since one of the festival’s main objective was to promote musicians from the area.
“We aim at promoting the eastern region by giving artists from the area exposure, providing top-drawer entertainment and empowering otherwise marginalised communities.”
It has in the past featured prominent local and international artistes as well as emerging local acts.
Speaking from her Harare base festival director Chido Musasiwa-Gutu confirmed preparations for the festival are taking shape. She said the festival was a way of bringing people that rarely see artists in action together in a scenic setting.
“Chimanimani Arts Festival is one of a kind in Zimbabwe, probably in the region,” said Musasiwa-Gutu.
“Where else would you get such a cross-sectional mingling of people converged on a village green against the backdrop of majestic mountains, enjoying all types of art forms performed by polished artistes — and all totally free of charge?”
She, however, appealed to corporate and individual well-wishers to come forward and support the multi-disciplinary arts gala whose theme for 2012 is “One Love-One-Nation-Peace!”
Tadiwa Muparutsa of Global Arts Trust, consultants to the festival, also called for support.
“We’re counting on the generosity and benevolence of our partners to help us reach our funding target as we do every year since Chimanimani is a non-commercial, not-for-profit, free-entry festival,” said Muparutsa.
“We still need funding for various levels of the festival programme, but we’re confident of competently staging the festival as we’ve done every year. We call on well-wishers to chip in with the financial assistance to make the event a resounding success.
“I believe over the years our partner organisations have realised positive results from their association with the festival and Chimanimani (festival) has definitely grown to become an event with a place on the national and regional arts calendar.”
He said the festival’s partners that had so far shown interest in sponsoring this year’s event were National Arts Council of Zimbabwe, Pamberi Trust, British Council, Alliance Francaise, Hivos, Eunic, Doltek, Londoner’s Sports Bar, Let Them Trust, Chido Advertising Pvt Ltd, Spinfest and Culture Fund Trust of Zimbabwe.
Musasiwa-Gutu said free developmental workshops on various arts genres facilitated by experts are also due to be held at several venues as part of the festival.
The organisers are hosting a promotional music gig on June 30 at Londoner’s Sports Bar, Strathaven, featuring some of this year’s headline acts from Harare which include Chiwoniso Maraire, Ba Shupi, Dino Mudondo, Chikwata 263, Junior Bantan, Tehn Diamond, Josh Meck, Dadza D and Apple T among others.
Musasiwa-Gutu emphasised that 60% of the acts participating in the festival were from Chimanimani, Mutare and other parts of Manicaland Province since one of the festival’s main objective was to promote musicians from the area.
“We aim at promoting the eastern region by giving artists from the area exposure, providing top-drawer entertainment and empowering otherwise marginalised communities.”
