Standard
By Lesley Moyo
19 December 2010
BULAWAYO — Makokoba reverberated to the sounds of the African drum and marimba on Wednesday night as the township-based Ibumba International Festival kicked off full of promise.
Over 100 invited guests filled up Stanley Hall, the main venue of the festival and were captivated by the performances from Siyaya, Iyasa, Amawumbo, Ingwenyama, Kwabatsha and Tumbuka who put up a spectacular opening act.
Not to be outdone was new kid on the block, Clive, an upcoming comedian.
He left the guests in stitches and even received applause from the guest of honour, Education, Sport Arts and Culture minister, David Coltart as well as other delegates who were in attendance.
Saimon Mambazo Phiri, director of the festival was spot on in his welcome speech when he said Mokokoba was the oldest town in Bulawayo but with the latest ideas.
The festival, now in its 13th year, has brought new ideas and has shown great improvement. This year was no exception.
Coltart applauded the role played by arts in society. “In good times and also in bad times it is usually the arts industry that keeps us going,†Coltart said.
He also became the latest high- profile person to endorse Bulawayo as the heart and soul of the arts and culture in the country.
“Bulawayo is the heart and soul of art and culture in our nation, if not in southern Africa. We have an amazing amount of artistic potential in this city.
This festival reminds us to be wholehearted in our efforts in promoting artistic talent so that we can be rightly proud of our arts and culture industry,†Coltart said igniting thunderous applause from the packed Stanley Hall.
After his speech the minister, officially opened the festival by beating a tall African drum 13 times, each signalling the number of years the festival has been held.
Phiri was also honoured on the night with a lifetime achievement award in recognition of his work in promoting arts in the city.
After the opening ceremony, it was time to party with seasoned artistes in the mould of Jeys Marabini accompanied by his band Kozekulunge, Willis Wataffi Afirika and man of the moment, Winky D.
On Thursday, the Indaba Book Cafe hosted two book launches by South African-based Nomashawekazi Damasane and celebrated poet Albert Nyathi who launched his latest book Echoes from Zimbabwe, which traces the political history of Zimbabwe as seen through the poet’s eyes.
Celebrated culture expert and historian, Phathisa Nyathi congratulated the two for launching their books and sharing their experiences with the world.
“Poetry is a result of the mediation between the heart and the mind. It belongs to the heart but the mind must do the creation.
“Therefore we congratulate the two for sharing with us what is close to their hearts,†Nyathi said.
He added that poetry was the heritage of every society as it was part of the folk tradition.
The same venue also witnessed the opening of Writing with Light exhibition, which runs until the end of the festival.
On Friday morning the artistes had an opportunity to meet with the mayor of the city of Bulawayo, Thaba Moyo to discuss pertinent issues affecting the city and the arts industry.
Some of the forthcoming highlights of the festival include the comedy Nite on Saturday that will feature South African comedians Edgar Langveldt and Madluphuthu, Carl Joshua Ncube, Omkhula, Clive and Babongile Skhonjwa.
The Kwaito and Urban Grooves Nite is another major draw card to the festival.
The festival runs until Tuesday and those who will take time to attend will have a time of their life if the performances witnessed so far are anything to go by.