BY SHARON SIBINDI
Female arts-oriented organisation The Loziba Movement in partnership with Youth for Innovation Trust will beginning today, hold the Loziba Festival which runs up to next Saturday. The festival will run under the theme Gender Equality Today for a Sustainable Tommorrow!
Loziba Festival is an all-female integrative movement whose aim is to empower female artists in and around Bulawayo.
It was formed by ladies who felt the need to stand up for women and break the bias, which is manifested by patriarchy in partnership with Youth for Innovation Trust (YIT).
“This year, the Loziba Festival will be held on March 6 to 12,” YIT media officer Senelani Ndlovu said.
“The festival will feature plenty of activities, which will aid in the elevation of female artists.
Keep Reading
- 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
“It will also help them to move from their comfort zones to become better people, who support each other as females.
“The official festival launch will be held at Chigumira at Matsika today [Sunday] at 2pm and it is open to everyone.”
Ndlovu said the fete has a lot lined up aimed to empower women in arts.
“On day two, there will be a film screening titled The Storytellers, which will be held at the National Gallery of Zimbabwe in Bulawayo at 3pm,” she said.
“Day three will be held at Mhlahlandlela board room where there will be a workshop running under the banner Where is The Money, which has an objective of promoting economic sustainability and there will be engagements with various stakeholders that include, Empower Bank, civil society organisations and private entities.
“Day four on March 9, there will be a spoken word show under the title A Few Words, which will be held at Carne Casa at 3pm.”
Ndlovu said the main objective of the spoken word show was to shine the spotlight to subaltern poets so as to enhance their visibility.
“This session will also promote the use of indigenous languages as we have realised that artists end up being forced to use language of power [English], which leads to language death,”she said.
Ndlovu said fashion lovers should also be geared for a fashion show to be held on March 10 at the National Gallery of Zimbabwe in Bulawayo.
“A fashion show will run under the banner A Walk in Her Shoes and a Hair Expo titled Inwele Zomuntu Omnyama, will be held on March 10 at the National Art Gallery at 2pm,” she said.
“We have realised that in the arts sector, mainly those in the music and film industry are given more recognition, so as to break the bias, through these two activities it will be brought to light that fashion designers and hair-dressers are equally important and their work of art will be celebrated as well.
“March 11 will be filled with melodious sounds where we will put on our dancing shoes.
“There will be One Women Shows, one in Gwanda and another one in Bulawayo.
“Pamellah Magariro will be in Gwanda at Aqua Leisure Centre and she will be supported by Kadder while Novuyo Seagirl will be at Carne Casa where she will be supported by Qeqeshiwe Mntambo.”
Ndlovu said the shows would start at 6pm.
She said the closing ceremony will be musical on Saturday at a venue to be announced and starts at 2pm.
Ndlovu said the name Loziba was inspired by Queen Loziba, King Mzilikazi’s senior wife who advocated for women empowerment and stood her ground in a society filled with patriarchal chauvinism.
“These female artists are driven by the same zeal which Queen Loziba had, they are game changers, they advocate for equality and equity,” she said.
She said the movement was a non-profit initiative.