Lessons from the Harare Carnival

THE clogged streets of Harare, at face value, don’t make for a relaxing party atmosphere. But despite everything, the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) managed to put up a week of spectacles — fashion shows, musicals, discussions and culturally themed dinners. The carnival festivities started with lighting in First Street which turned the pedestrian mall into a Christmas party mood.

Since my accreditation forms were ‘lost’ at the ZTA office, I could not make it to other planned activities but certainly made it to the ‘street party.’ Carnival street parties are the best carnivals have to offer, with people freely drinking, partying and dancing away. Harare came out in large numbers. The coming together of Zimbabweans for fun and not political rallies is a positive development.

While the day was good for outdoor fun, I found myself too busy trying not to get crushed by the bovine crowds as the onslaught pushed even the most Zen-like people over the edge. Flowing alcohol and excitable crowds always mean you’re in for a rowdy time. The crowd puller had to be popular dance queen, Bev and her troupe of Sexy Angels. Men and women shouted ‘Bev, Bev’ demanding her to show off her moves for their delight.

But with this year’s carnival now history, what lessons have we learnt?
● As with most events in Zimbabwe, the carnival is decidedly Harare-centric, the rest of the country does not get to partake in this party. If there is to be economic value to the country, then perhaps, the event has to be spread to all corners of the country. This could be an opportunity to make some parts of the country visible by holding satellite events there so that the whole country is one big party.
● The carnival certainly brought a spirit of diversity. Many agree to disagree on the choice of acts present. The scantily dressed Brazilians have not been generously welcomed in a society that pretends to be conservative. Yet ironically, we see nothing wrong with our love for Bev and the Sexy Angels.
● The carnival is only indigenous in name. What cultural relevance does it have when ZTA only copies and pastes the format of foreign carnivals? We could have copied and made changes to make it really Zimbabwean. It is worrying when a culture is displayed by female nudity and the economy by males in suits.
● The cancellation of the Carnival Gospel concert was a big dent. As ZTA chief executive officer, Karikoga Kaseke acknowledged ‘due diligence before appointing anyone to organise any event on our behalf’ is necessary. Fly-by-night event organisers destroy credibility of the carnival brand.
● The organisers should publish their intended routes and alternative roads in advance to avoid the confusion they caused the motoring public. Most city roads where heavily congested creating a messy gridlock and those who had other business not related to the carnival were inconvenienced. As a result, Harare was one big traffic jam.
●The timing of the Harare Carnival a few weeks after HIFA is not strategically economic and sustainable. We cannot have two big festivals taking place back to back in the same city in the same month. A carnival summer maybe.
● Other well-organised carnivals tend to have a children’s day with a shorter parade route that is child friendly. The street party was not good for families.
● We need to define exactly what our carnival is about. Where we have borrowed these traditions, carnivals are festive holidays that are customarily held immediately before Lent, which is in February.

The begging questions remain. Who is benefitting from this carnival, and how? How does it add to our country’s gross domestic product? If it’s tourism, is this the best way to showcase the best of Zimbabwe?

newsdesk@fingaz.co.zw