Determined, to perform
For six days each year, Harare gardens often serving as home to Zimbabwean street kids roars into life with the Harare International Festival of the Arts (HIFA). 2008 is proving to be no different with just as many artists determined to perform, and just as many tourists, visitors and locals thronging the festival despite the biting costs and general hardships bedeviling the Zimbabwe.
Attendance to the Chiwoniso and Trio Ivoire show easily passed the 3000 mark. Half of the audience were foreign visitors of all races who did not understand a single Shona word but who simply loved the mbira-playing beautiful songstress affectionately known as ‘Chi’.
However the artists were not the only ones lighting up the place. HIFA is the place where the who’s who hang out, doing business or just relaxing with their families amidst a plethora of artistic entertainment. This is currently the place where one gets to rub shoulders with some of the best artists in the country.
The youth zone also captivated huge audiences with creative programs intended to involve the youth and keep the young children occupied. Children were taught, among other things, yoga and the Brazilian war dance called Capoeira. They also got the opportunity to lip-sync to their favorite songs. In the youth zone there were stands set up by organizations like Childline offering free counseling services.
*Trio Ivoire formed in 1999 when its three members met in the Ivory Coast. On plays piano, the other drums and the last, marimba. They recently released an album called Touching Africa.