Acoustic Night debuted at HIFA this year on the Coca Cola Green, how did that go?
It was amazing! We had such a good time and the response was overwhelming! The artists really enjoyed it. It was also their first time at HIFA as well. For a virgin experience it was amazing!

How are you finding HIFA so far?
I’m enjoying it; I just haven’t had time to see all the shows. But I think there are a lot of new people, a lot of new faces. It’s very different from the past years where you had the same faces. We’re enjoying the new talent.

Of the shows that you’ve seen which one is your favourite so far?
Jamaram, not just because its ZGS, but because they’ve got such a lively reggae act. They’re very energetic on stage.

I’ve seen you guys at HIFA for a few years now…
This is our fourth year.

What does your stand sell?
Peanuts, peanut butter and roasted corn.

What is the idea behind your stand?
We want to promote our traditions beginning with food. Some people think that tradition is not good. As you can see I’m a youth, so we want young people to be able to appreciate our traditions.

Petina Gappah

Stunner

On my way out after a show last night a young man spotted the camera around my neck and demanded (in a nice way) that I take his picture, pretty soon a couple of his friends wanted their pictures too. Now, usually I’m wary of being alone with three young men in the dark, but HIFA has a way with people. We had a lot of laughs taking the photos and they even took down our web address to see them live on the internet.

Being a fan of classic movies especially those featuring big bands, swing, jazz and dance I couldn’t miss the opportunity to watch the Jazz Tap Ensemble at HIFA. The ensemble was established in 1979 by three dancers and three musicians. They have shared the stage with such tap legends as Savion Glover and Gregory Hines.

Tap dance originated in the 1800s, and has its roots in African-American dancing and Irish step dancing. It is believed to have arisen in minstrel shows which gained popularity at that time where white performers would satirize southern african-americans dances, and black performers in blackface would imitate the white performers imitating black dances. Likewise Jazz is also born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. Both art forms are quintessentially American, and symbols of the beauty that can overcome a painful past.

…’what is HIFA?’

Yesterday during the First street performances I asked some people in the crowd if they knew that HIFA had begun. None of the people I asked knew about HIFA. There were just happy to see a different kind of entertainment on First Street.