BY SINDISO DUBE
THE second edition of the annual Bulawayo Arts Festival roared to life yesterday simultaneously with the Bulawayo Day celebrations, with various arts activities taking place on different platforms, virtual and physical.
The Bulawayo Day, commemorated on June 1, marks the city’s history and celebrates the day Bulawayo gained city status.
The city celebrated the day with the launch of the I Love Bulawayo online campaign, where residents posted pictures, videos and audios, hashtags showing their love and pride for the city.
The Bulawayo Arts festival, which will be officiated by President Emerson Mnangagwa tomorrow, will run until Saturday with some shows for a physical audience, while others will be beamed on Bulawayo Arts Festival TV (YouTube channel).
The Bulawayo Day kicked off on Good Morning Zimbabwe on national television ZBC-tv, with the I Love Bulawayo campaign.
Bulawayo’s first commercial radio station Skyz Metro FM hosted the We Love Bulawayo music show, where they played more than 100 songs from the city and this ran throughout the day.
Poets such as Dumisani Ndlovu, Nobuhle the poet, The Village poet performed on the Bulawayo Arts Festival TV channel and different Facebook platforms.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
The only physical event was held at Fundukulinda Butchery in Tshabalala, where artists and fans held a get-together over braai, drinks, and performances celebrating Bulawayo and the arts.
Part of the festival’s second day programme, today will feature an urban heritage corridor tour around the city, a play titled Four Angry Zimbos by Bambelela Arts ensemble at the Bulawayo Theatre, and comedy show by Ntando Van Moyo, Zwe, and many more.
There will also be a high-level cultural governance conference at the Large City Hall which will go throughout the day.
Qeqe, who will be part of the performers, told NewsDay Life & Style that the festival was an opportunity for local artists to showcase what they are good at.
“This is not just a musical or arts festival, it is a festival about cultural pride, as Bulawayo we should show the world what we are made of,” she said.
This year’s festival will see performances from Madlela Sikhobokhobo, Qeqeshiwe, Mzoe 7, Novuyo Seagirl, Holy Ten, Poptain, Mwenje Mathole, Mimmie Tarukwana, Asaph, Doc Vickela, Mandla Da Comedian, Fusion 5 Mangwiro, Hwabaraty and Snowy, among others.
- Follow us on Twitter @NewsDayZimbabwe
