Intwasa Cultural Diversity: Biggest show in Byo explodes into life

The mother of all festivals koBulawayo has exploded into action. Intwasa has gained traction over the years. This year’s Intwasa Arts Festival kicked off on September 24 and will end on September 29 under the theme: Cultural diversity. This time around, Intwasa has started on a high note. Just last week, NoViolet Bulawayo had a book launch through the combined effort of Intwasa, British Council and local distributors amaBooks to a packed audience at the National Gallery in Bulawayo. Over 350 people packed the venue to witness a local daughter who is garnering accolades the world over and is poised to snag the Booker Man Prize award having made the short list.
Born in Tsholostho as Elizabeth Tshele, NoViolet is a masters graduate and author of We Need New Names the book that is currently contending for first prize in the UK competition. She is one of the many reasons, along with festivals such as Intwasa, why Bulawayo is entrenching its brand as Zimbabwe’s cultural capital.

There are several groups and artists past and present from here who have and continue to romp on global platforms willynilly. One can invoke Dorothy Masuka, the late jazz legend Augustine Masarurwa and award winning author, Yvonne Vera, Siyaya, Umkhathi, Iyasa, Insingizi, Tafadzwa Gwetai, Cont Mhlanga, Dudu Manhenga as examples. There is too little space to highlight the achievements of local artists.
Let me share my dilemma with you. Just last week, NoViolet Bulawayo, Styxx Mhlanga (yes brother to Cont) and Dr Gwendoline Nani launched books at the National Gallery! This is not all. There were several other artistic activities strewn across the city. It becomes very exasperating to not have to mention them in this limited space.  Make the trek to Bulawayo and witness the likes of Dudu, Wataffi, new boy band Pronix, celebrated plays in Itsoseng written by South African Omphile Molusi to mention just a few of the highlights. The festival wisely showcases experienced and freshly baked talent. It is in my estimation a talent scout’s fantasy feeding trough. I wonder how zealously the corporate world, especially from the tourism sector, has taken advantage of the platform to promote the goods and services thereof.

Finally, I would also like to express my unreserved optimism at the appointment of Jonathan Moyo as the Information Minister. Without a hint of  trepidation, artists that I spoke to are excited at the prospect of seeing the minister under whose watch several local musicians emerged from the proverbial shadows revive his epoch defining work.
Indeed, it was such a time when the sole national broadcaster was compelled via the 75 percent local content stipulation, to play the songs of local musicians. This ground breaking policy helped the careers of many youthful musicians the ilk of Alexio Kawara, Plaxedes Wenyika and Sani Makhalima to name but a few.

In an age of piracy, artists need the royalties. More air play means more income and charity must begin here at home They are not quite playing ball. I suppose when you think about it, the minister is actually, bonafide, a well to do musician and songwriter. He would, like myself, have a vested interest in seeing that artists get their own back.