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Hifa 2012 comes to life today

Life & Style
All is ripe and ready for the Harare International Festival of the Arts (Hifa) 2012 which will kick off today under the theme “A Show of Spirit”, with an exciting line-up of a variety of arts events for a week. This year, Hifa comes with yet another interesting line-up of both international and local performances […]

All is ripe and ready for the Harare International Festival of the Arts (Hifa) 2012 which will kick off today under the theme “A Show of Spirit”, with an exciting line-up of a variety of arts events for a week.

This year, Hifa comes with yet another interesting line-up of both international and local performances representing the real sense of spirit.

Amongst numerous musical, dance, visual art and acting performance venues is the Hivos Poetry Café, the platform of expression through spoken word whose programme will this year be curated by the award-winning Hifa spoken word consultant, Chirikure Chirikure.

“I love this year’s programme and I believe it represents the best that Zimbabwe has to offer in music, theatre, dance, visual arts, craft, spoken word and youth programming, as well as a tasty feast of visiting performances from around the world,” said Hifa founder and artistic director, Manuel Bagorro.

All sessions will be conducted by local talented poet Outspoken and other local talents expected throughout the programme include Albert Nyathi, Memory Chirere, Chiedza Musengezi, Fungai Machirori, Godobori, Gerald “Synik” Mugwenhi and Tinashe Muchuri amongst others.

Amongst many internationally-acclaimed expected performances, Zimbabwe will also have an opportunity to celebrate and showcase its most vibrant and talented artistes like celebrated mbira songtress Chiwoniso Maraire and breathtaking afro-jazz urban groover Alexio Kawara.

Maraire who will perform on May 6 at the 7Arts Theatre is this year performing under the concept Chii Nhai Pfumojena:States of Emotion, a rare collaboration with the talented John Pfumojena.

“This collaboration is the first of its kind where the two will fuse their different sounds, rhythm and lyrics into an interwoven performance,” said Maraire’s manager Tsungi Zvobgo.

From a world of love, pain, darkness and joy the two voices will collaborate in an emotional act with two stories that will take the audiences through myriad states of emotion, on a magical journey of musical and visual harmony.

On yet another exciting highlight of the festival, the award-winning Shaina hit-maker is set to do what he knows best with his flawless voice that embraces a fusion of diverse musical genres.

“This will be a special performance because for this particular performance I have certainly improvised and spiced up my band to make the act as lively as possible,” said Kawara.

He said he would bring a full musical army on stage as he had added five more members to his brass section of four people and he had added two more backing vocalists to his usual two just to leave lasting impressions at Hifa 2012.

The British Embassy in conjunction with the British Council will present the Live Vibe, featuring six of the country’s hottest dance groups including the Super Crew led by internationally acclaimed Tony Adigun who is artistic director of Avant Garde Dance.

Adigun has choreographed and toured the world with many leading recording artistes including Whitney Houston, Usher Raymond, Ashanti Douglas and many others. All the way from India, A Bhangra Banquet, the most internationally popular Indian music outfit associated with Punjabi culture, will take the stage.

Bhangra was developed in Britain in the early ’80s by first and second-generation immigrants drawing from music and song of the Punjab region as well as various Western musical styles.

From USA presenting tap dancing and live jazz music to Zimbabwe will be the Jazz Tap Ensemble.

Hailed as leaders in the renaissance of tap, the group brings together its extraordinary dancers and musicians in a spirited repertory of virtuosity, wit and great musicality inspired by a vision of excellence, innovation, collaboration and a deep respect for the masters.

Other performances to look out for include Between the Lines, a contemporary dance piece by internationally acclaimed choreographer George Harrold, On the Rise by the National Ballet of Zimbabwe and Gri…Eish!, the latest work from the company who brought Zambezi Express to Hifa 2010 amongst others.

Gri…Eish!, features some of Matabeleland’s finest performers, including Black Umfolozi, Siyaya, Jeys Marabini, Willis Watafi, Family Voices, Umdumo Wesizwe, and Simon Banda. The 33-strong ensemble take audiences on a song and dance journey through the traditions of Imbube music, from its origins in South African mines to the fierce song and dance competitions that sprang from this acapella heritage.

Also expected to rock the party at Hifa 2012, in what is expected to be one of the biggest events is South Africa’s acclaimed poet, MC and singer, Boitumelo “Tumi” Molekane and The Volume, a groove-laden gig combining jazz and hiphop with electrifying lyrics.

Although Tumi is also a noted poet, he has made fame with the Hip Hop band Tumi and The Volume, backed by the musical component of Mozambican band 340ml who performed at Hifa 2005. This is but a tip of the iceberg of what to expect at Hifa 2012.