Organisers of the cash-strapped Intwasa Arts Festival KoBulawayo say the annual fiesta will go ahead despite in funding challenges.
By Sindiso Dube in bulawayo
The 14th edition of the arts jamboree will run from September 26 to 29 at various venues across the city, under the theme Realities and experiences.
Festival director Raisedon Baya said they would go ahead with the event despite financial challenges.
“Preparations are going on and we are running around to do our best with the little resources we have,” he said.
“We are still trying to get sponsorship and partners for this year’s event. We are calling for those interested in partnering with us to come on board.
“The problem is affecting everyone in the industry because most corporates who are expected to fund are not making money and others are closing down, but we can’t just sit and cry.
“Everyone wants to do better than the previous year, but as the organisers we have pledged that resources or no resources, Intwasa needs to survive. So, we will push for a better show this time.”
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Baya said this year’s edition would not have a stand-alone fashion show.
“This year we won’t have a stand-alone fashion show like what we used to do. we will, instead, incorporate fashion in the Women, Wine and Words show,” he said.
The festival’s woes and visibility might have been worsened by a fall- out with the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA).
As per a partnership agreement that was made last year, the festival would run concurrently with the Sanganai/Hlanganani world tourism expo. However, the tourism expo happened last week.
In an interview with our sister publication NewsDay, Baya said they had not talked to ZTA over this year’s partnership.
“We have not talked and agreed on anything for this year with ZTA. We actually have outstanding issues from last year that I am not at liberty to disclose that need to be dealt with first before enter any deal with them this year,” he said.
Events to look forward to are Women, Wine and Words, the Gukurahundi play 1983, Dark Years, Bloom Bloom (a play by Umkhathi Theatre Arts) and the festival shutdown bash Umcimbi Wabantu, which is meant to celebrate Skyz Metro FM’s second anniversary, which will be headlined by South African legendary group Soul Brothers.
Intwasa Festival this year has partnered with the Open Society for Southern Africa (OSISA), CITE, Nhimbe Trust, Africalia, Umkhathi Theatre, Bulawayo National Art Gallery and SkyzMetro FM.
