It is all systems go for the fourth edition of the Dzimbahwe Arts festival (DAF) which roars into life on Thursday at the Great Zimbabwe University in Masvingo.
Artists like Potato, Jnr Bantan and Feel Africa, the provincial winners of the Chibuku Road to Fame competitions, are billed to perform.
A unique multi-disciplinary festival that showcases performances and exhibitions in visual arts and crafts, literary arts, culinary arts and performing arts (theatre, music and dance), the three-day fête will be held under the theme “Sustainable Development of the Arts”, which is in line with the current drive by the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe to promote professionalism and sustainability in the arts industry.
The festival will be held at the Great Zimbabwe University Main Campus, Charles Austin Theatre at the Masvingo Civic Centre and Rujeko Hall, among other venues.
Festival director Herbert Chimhundu yesterday said that all was now in place for the festival that will run until Saturday.
“Everything is now in place and this year’s event is going to be bigger and better.
“We got sponsorship from the Culture Fund of Zimbabwe Trust and the British Council,” said Chimhundu.
He said the festival will also bring established and upcoming artists together to share ideas.
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“What makes this year’s event unique is that the university is collaborating with artists from various art genres and backgrounds from many different areas such as Zaka, Bikita, Chiredzi, Bulawayo and Harare.
“It will also bring together mostly upcoming artists and some established artists, young people, local communities, schools, colleges, universities and other institutions from Masvingo Province and beyond to showcase their artistic talents for public consumption
“In addition to the performances and exhibitions, workshops and symposia or academic discussions are held to link artistic creativity and performance to training and education, with particular reference to heritage studies and the cultural industries,” he said.
Chimhundu said the festival has been inspired by the knowledge and realisation that the host province carries a lot of cultural and historical meaning for the nation.
Other artists to perform include Afro Vision from Midlands State University, theatre groups from universities, colleges and schools, Mbungo Stars, Rumwanda dance group and Masvingo Poets, among others.
