I’ve been wondering why there have been so few reviews of HIFA’s opening show. Even the official HIFA web site is bereft of photographs, video footage or reviews – its as if it didn’t happen. Three Men On a Boat published a short piece that described the show as a catalogue of 60 years of American pop culture and that it was “OK”. On the plus side it was visually appealing. Three Men On a Boat were pleased that the opening show had been depoliticised. Meanwhile Zimbo Jam got to grips with what seems to be a central reflection: where was the story, what was the message of the opening show? But do we have to have one? Many would say yes because its a chance to tell a story, or stories of national significance; a chance to provoke conversation and draw on the experience of Zimbabweans; what are we seeing, doing, dreaming about … It seems like the HIFA organisers don’t believe that it’s possible to do this without being POLITICAL. That awful P word that will either get you into trouble, or prompt you to create art that that doesn’t fall on the side of safety. Tafadzwa Simba, the Festival spokesman said that the “arts indaba simply tried to capture the aspirations of the people, in an apolitical way, as well as to stimulate debate and dialogue.” Usually adopting a protected stand does little to stimulate meaningful debate. Nomalanga Moyo on SW Radio Africa reflected that with Workers Day falling in the middle of the Festival, and in a country with 90% unemployment, HIFA’s theme of progress and optimism could be regarded as being a little far-fetched. And maybe the bottom line: “HIFA should be more than just about singing and dancing, we can see that anywhere else. We come to HIFA because it always has that something special and different,” says Tawanda on Zimbo Jam, otherwise you can just turn on VH1.

Happiness is love. Full stop.

Read about what makes us happy according to the Grant Study. Via Atlantic

and I am waiting
for forests and animals
to reclaim the earth as theirs
and I am waiting
for a way to be devised
to destroy all nationalisms
without killing anybody
and I am waiting
for linnets and planets to fall like rain
and I am waiting for lovers and weepers
to lie down together again
in a new rebirth of wonder

Lawrence Ferlinghetti, “I Am Waiting”

‘Aliens’ to vote” was a catchy headline in a daily paper today. I think these so-called Aliens would rejoice if the headline would read “Aliens exempted from paying tax in Zimbabwe.” After 33 years of independence as a nation should we continue to classify other people under the banner of aliens? Who are these aliens? Are they black or white? Having parents of foreign origin or being born in a foreign land automatically puts one in the bracket of  “aliens”. These are people who have been labeled to have no totem at one point and who lived in the squashed urban settlements of Zimbabwe. An operations was launched a couple of years ago to cleanse the urban settlements from  “aliens”, but almost 8 years on “aliens” have developed a mentality of resisting in order to exist and to be recognized.

Also if you speak a foreign language with no fixed abode moving from one mine or farm to another looking for menial jobs your ID reflecting “A” you are not spared from the branding either. This alien brand went as far as making those with British roots join the renouncing queue at Registrar General’s Offices. After the economic meltdown of 2008 the even to the so-called original Zimbabweans ran for cover in foreign countries and they became bitter after being treated to the Alien brand which forced them back home. Imagine if you cannot stand to be called alien for four years how about someone who had to endure it for 33 years.

With the referendum over and expectations of new constitution it seems like “aliens” have all of a sudden become a special group which every politician is giving special mention so that their right to vote which was stolen some time back can be restored.  For the past 33 years “aliens” have been contributing to Zimbabwe’s economic growth under harsh working conditions in mines, farms, industries, now most these aliens’ children have become educated professionals and are now part of the systems running this great nation. Some of these “aliens” have gone to represent the nation in sports and some have become successful business people and all we have been hearing were praises for Zimbabwe and not “aliens”. These are our brothers and sisters who have been used for so many years to toyi toyi in the street campaigning for various political parties only to be denied that right to vote in an election because they are “aliens”. Even to get travel documents is still a hassle for them because they have to go through a rigorous process of renouncing some foreign citizenship. Election time is the only time when “aliens” get recognition and this time if they are allowed to vote those hopes are high that they will be recognized as Zimbabweans, not space invaders like what some people think.