HIFA set to light up Harare

The annual Harare International Festival of the Arts (HIFA) is set to light up the capital city from April 29 to May 4. Festival founding artistic director, Manuel Bagorro, who had taken a hiatus, bounces back after Gavin Peter who had been chosen as his successor in 2012, excused himself for personal reasons.

This year’s theme, ‘Switch On’ is inspired by the resilience of Zimbabwe’s artistic community, from their communal search for enlightenment, and from Doris Lessing’s short story, ‘The Sun Between Their Feet’ which tells of the repeated determined attempts of two dung beetles to scale the heights of a rock with their precarious cargo. HIFA is touted as the “Glastonbury of African festivals.”

Established in 1999, the week-long festival has drawn big names on the local and international circuits.  International acts include Dobet Gnahore (Ivory Coast), Maneli Jamal (Canada), Tcheka (Cape Verde), Black Bazar (Congo), Njabulo Mdlala (SA) and Toya Delazy (SA).

Local artists on the programme include songstress Netsayi & Black Pressure, trailblazing Jah Prayzah and Chiwoniso Maraire’s former backgroup Vibe Culture.
The great thing about HIFA is that it features performers across a variety of genres.  Bagorro described the programme as ‘diverse, innovative, prestigious and adventurous. It demonstrates the broad range of our audiences.’

The festival embraces various art forms including music, theatre, dance, fashion, spoken word, visual arts and many creative workshops.

Executive director, Maria Wilson, said ‘if ever there was a year that I felt we were going to have to postpone HIFA, it was this one. The festival has been struggling to survive.’  Yet despite the challenges, a generally harsh economic environment and a tight liquidity situation, HIFA is taking place thanks to the commitment of its organisers and sponsors.

The closing concert of the festivities will be graced by Freshlyground an award winning South African group known for their music, which has a fusion of rock, jazz and Afro-pop.
HIFA mainly takes place at the Harare Gardens.— Staff Reporter.

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