Eastern Highlands comes to life

. . . as arts festival preps go a gear up

Zivisai Chagaka,Staff Reporter

PREPARATIONS for the premier Eastern Highlands arts and entertainment event, the Chimanimani Arts Festival, are already at an advanced stage with organisers having confirmed part of this year’s line-up of performers and programme.
The annual arts festival, themed “Youth and Culture in Harmony”, will take place during the weekend of May 21-23. The free entry festival will feature some of Zimbabwe’s celebrated artists and performers while this year’s edition welcomes Barcelona-based Spanish street performers Pa lo Q’Sea.
According festival director, Steve “Sparx” Brown, Pa lo Q’Se, which means “for whatever it’s needed”, “use mythology, tradition, ritual elements and legends to realise a contemporary ‘fiesta’ featuring recyclable large puppets, stilt-walkers, uni-cyclists, jugglers, drummers and acrobats on both Saturday and Sunday mornings’.
The Spanish group was founded in 1989, he said, and their most popular production “Rompe Candela” (break the fire) has been presented at more than 300 venues worldwide including Canada, Colombia, Australia, New Caledonia, and throughout Europe.
Sparx said besides a coterie of Mutare and Chimanimani-based groups, this year will also see big acts that include Sulumani Chimbetu, Andy Brown, Outspoken, Mokoomba and Junior Bantan and comedian Edgar Langevelt plus groups from the Flame, BOCAPA and Music Crossroads talent networks.
There will also be a special guest appearance by Oliver “Tuku” Mtukudzi alongside the Ay Band in tribute to his late son, Sam.
The festival opens on May 21 with a cultural exposition to celebrate the International Day for Cultural Diversity and Development and continues throughout the weekend with a programme  of music, theatre film, poetry, comedy, dance and workshops.
Chimanimani, part of the picturesque Eastern Highlands, is a tourist attraction in its own right; and places of interest there include Tessa’s Pools and the Bridal Veil Falls, a favoured picnic spot. Chimanimani also offers some of the best one-day and overnight camping and mountain walking anywhere in the world.
On the opening day, traditional chiefs from the five chiefdoms from Chimanimani District (Chiefs Ngorima, Chikukwa, Muusha, Mutambara, and Ndima)are expected to bless the ceremony.
Traditional song, dance, rites and invocations would be delivered by the chiefs and their entourage, while a seven-day traditional brew (masese) would be served to everyone in attendance.
The two-day event will be held on the village green, is free and large crowds are expected per day.
Sparx said the festival creates a chance for everyone to participate culturally and makes positive and needed contributions to the uplifting of spirits and the economy of the rural community.
“The event provides a platform for community-based arts and crafts as well as exposing the audience to a wider scope of arts and crafts from outside the district.
“The festival also provides an opportunity for the local community to sell their arts, crafts, home produce and prepared food,” he said.
“The success of the past six festivals has contributed towards peace and unity within the district.
“The Chimanimani Arts Festival is the only one of its kind that has brought famous and popular artists together with local talent in a rural community setting.”
For those who would want to attend this increasingly popular event, there is a one-star Chimanimani Hotel, a lodge and chalets.
In the village itself one can book a visit to a traditional Shona village, chat with the locals at the village cafe, arrange a horseback ride in the forest, explore the local marketplace, or book a round of golf at the nine-hole country club.