Bulawayo arts events go digital amid Covid-19 crisis

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With the Covid-19-induced national lockdown extended indefinitely, prolonging the ban on entertainment gatherings, organisers of the annual Bulawayo arts fiestas — Intwasa Arts Festival koBulawayo and Roil Bulawayo Arts Awards — say they maybe forced to host the two events online if the measures persist.

By Sindiso Dube

With the Covid-19-induced national lockdown extended indefinitely, prolonging the ban on entertainment gatherings, organisers of the annual Bulawayo arts fiestas — Intwasa Arts Festival koBulawayo and Roil Bulawayo Arts Awards — say they maybe forced to host the two events online if the measures persist.

Intwasa Arts Festival koBulawayo was set for September 20 to 27, with the awards ceremony dubbed the biggest dress-up event in Bulawayo set for August 29. The Intwasa Arts Festival has been running since 2005, while the glamorous awards ceremony celebrates its fourth edition. Unfortunately, it seems like there won’t be a chance for music and fashion lovers to dress up and strut their thing this year because of the national lockdown decree.

Raisedon Baya, the festival director and also one of the awards organisers, said if the lockdown persists, they would use online platforms to host the shows.

“Like any other sector or business, Intwasa and the awards were affected by Covid-19, especially the lockdown — the current regulations forbid any gathering and, as you know, festivals are about bringing people together, they are about gathering,” Baya said.

“Now if the lockdown continues, there will be no choice, but to go online, it is doable and we have seen others doing it.”

Recently Bulawayo hosted what became the first virtual festival — the Bulawayo Arts Festival to commemorate Bulawayo Day on June 1.

However, the number of views on the three-day-long fete was not impressive leaving many wondering if Intwasa and the awards’ event would attract a huge following.

Harare artistes and promoters are making use of digital platforms to host weekly shows notably the Gara Mumba Iwe concert and Nash TV show.