The Hurungwe Arts Festival (HAF) will celebrate its 10th anniversary from July 24 to 27 with its biggest edition yet, welcoming official cultural delegations from Malawi, Zambia, Botswana and Kenya for the first time.
Running under the theme Unleashing Potential, Amplifying Voices, the festival has grown from a community arts showcase launched in 2014 into a recognised regional platform promoting music, dance, theatre, visual arts and cultural heritage.
HAF director Joel Zilala said preparations for the milestone event were complete.
"Preparations are at an advanced stage. We have worked with our partners, schools, traditional leaders and the community to ensure every programme runs as planned," he said.
Board chairperson Noboth Jembere described the anniversary as a landmark achievement.
"It is a proud moment for Hurungwe and for Zimbabwe. From a small community initiative to a regional platform, this shows what is possible when communities take ownership of their culture," he said, inviting artists, businesses, tourists and the public to attend the celebrations.
Since its inception, HAF has showcased more than 200 local artists while creating opportunities for young performers to progress from school stages to professional platforms.
"HAF was never meant to be a once-off event. It was meant to grow talent from the ground up. Today, children who performed in 2014 are mentoring the next generation," Zilala said.
- InterContinental Music Awards finalist set for Hurungwe Arts Festival
- Two Zimbos for Federation’s ‘untold stories’ play
- Hurungwe writer homecoming notes from Nama
- Stakeholders welcome community radio licensing push
Keep Reading
The four-day programme opens with a Schools Visual and Performing Arts Day at Karoi School Hall, followed by a traditional Bira kwaMambo Chanetsa featuring mbira, Dinhe and other living heritage practices.
The main festival at Karoi Waterfront Grounds will feature music, dance, theatre, spoken word, visual arts, craft exhibitions and workshops, before evening performances bring together artists from Zimbabwe and across the region in collaborative productions.
Delegates will also tour Lake Kariba as part of a cultural and tourism exchange organised in partnership with the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority and Malawi's Department of Tourism.
"We want to show that culture and tourism go hand in hand. Kariba is not just a holiday destination; it is part of our story," Zilala said.
Rather than relying on a single headline act, this year's festival will spotlight collaboration, with more than 200 local artists sharing the stage with regional ensembles from Malawi, Zambia, Botswana and Kenya.
"Collaboration is the headliner this year. When a dancer from Malawi meets a mbira player from Hurungwe, we create something that did not exist before," Zilala said.
Beyond entertainment, the festival will also include entrepreneurship and business development sessions aimed at helping young artists build sustainable careers in the creative sector.
Jembere said the board's long-term vision is to transform HAF into a year-round creative institution through the establishment of a Creative Hub and Academy.
"Ten years laid the foundation. The next decade is about building a lasting institution that nurtures talent, preserves culture and creates opportunities throughout the year," he said.
