The inaugural edition of the International Cultural Food Festival is set to be held on February 2 at ZB Sports Club, in Vainona.
REPORT BY MUNYA SIMANGO
The festival will see a convergence of different foods and cultures.
Festival founder Dananai Chipunza said the food fête was aimed at bringing people from different cultures and nations together through food and culture.
Several foreign missions including the Italian, Spanish, Indian and Austrian embassies in Harare have confirmed their participation in the launch edition of the festival.
Zimbabwean participation will be through a stand that will exhibit traditional foods. Local food processing companies will also have stands on which to exhibit their products.
Participating embassies will be expected to bring samples of dishes from their countries, which will afford food enthusiasts the opportunity to experience different cuisines free of charge.
In addition, information on different cultures and food will be available at the various stands during the festival.
“One of our foremost objectives is to promote cultural diversity, understanding and co-operation between Zimbabweans and the different international nationalities living in our country. Festival to provide a platform for exchange
The food festival will expose Zimbabweans to different cuisines and enable them to have a better understanding of different cultures.
On the other hand, the international community resident in the country will get the opportunity to experience Zimbabwean culture and cuisine.
On the social aspect of the festival, Chipunza said: “The festival provides a family-friendly environment and creates a platform for people from different cultures to come together and interact while learning more about each other’s backgrounds.”
The key highlights of the International Cultural Food Festival include a Spanish chef who will be demonstrating the preparation of different dishes live, performances from popular local musicians as well as children’s entertainment.
Chipunza said that she had big plans for the future of the festival and the goal of this year’s launch event was to showcase what food enthusiasts should expect in future festivals.
“Through the festival, we also aim to create opportunities for young people interested in the food industry as they can come and learn more about different cuisines,” said Chipunza.
