Arts Views with Thabani H Moyo
INTWASA Arts Festival KoBulawayo and Zimbabwe International Trade fair will this year have a rare tango. The two Zimbabwe’s premiere events have their paths intersecting. This is a rare occurrence in the history of the two events.
Intwasa Arts Festival this year happens from the 21st of September to the 25th while ZITF starts from the 21st of September to the 24th of the same month. It seems like the fourth week of September will be one of the busiest weeks in Bulawayo as serious business collides with serious recreational arts activities. But what does this mean for the organisers of Intwasa Arts Festival?. The Zambezi Times sought Raisedon Baya’s views on this rare occurrence.
“From a face value, the clash or the simultaneous happening of the festival and the fair is that it comes with a lot of positives. Zimbabwe Trade fair attracts a lot of people to the city of Bulawayo therefore they have an opportunity to partake in the festival and increase the festival attendance regardless of the prevailing restrictions,” anticipates Baya.
True. After spending hours at the ZITF doing business, attendees to the business exhibition will have an opportunity to wind off their day by attending some of the live events lined up by the Festival. It is always wise to mix business with clean pleasure.
“The trade fair can or should or will bring a lot of business executives especially decision makers in terms of business and therefore the vision will be to meet them and get to show them the festival in the hope in the future when we engage in terms of partnership they have a better understanding of the festival,” added the quiet but aggressive director.
Such meetings at the side of ZITF and Intwasa Arts Festival might unlock future partnerships that can bring forth win-win situations to both parties.
“Trade Fair normally brings a hype to the city, it creates a different atmosphere, some excitement and we hope as a festival to harvest part of that excitement to attract audiences towards the event, especially those who want entertainment and relaxation after long hours at ZITF during the day,” said Baya.
There are positives as the two events happen at the same time. Baya hopes that this time around ZITF spillage will definitely benefit the festival. He believes that those visiting Bulawayo will take time to explore the festival programs. There is also a challenge that has been brought by Covid-19. The coincidental clash of the Festival and ZITF is a cause for celebration.
Some of the events that audiences can look forward to during the festival are Women Wine and Words, Youth For Hope Concert, Comedy and Umkhathi Theatre’s Footprints.
