Intwasa set to liven Bulawayo night life

BULAWAYO will this Tuesday reverberate into song and dance as Intwasa Arts Festival koBulawayo roars into life, marking a decade of bringing rich and exciting arts events to the city and livening its otherwise sleepy night life.

To mark the anniversary, this year's festival according to the organisers is going to be big, bold and most importantly "UNFORGETTABLE".

With only two days to go, organisers of the event said they have reached the climax of the preparations and that the valves were ready to be opened for the arts jamboree.

The festival director, Raisedon Baya, said they were raring to go with various groups having confirmed participation at the event.

A plethora of acts are slated for different venues, all within a walkable distance of each other around the city allowing room for people to enjoy the different arts genres from theatre, literary arts, to music, dance and visual arts and crafts.

Foreign artistes and poets including Sir Black, Crystal Tettey all from Ghana and Frank Langmack from Denmark are expected to grace Intwasa.

Baya said at least four plays would be showcased at the 10th edition of Intwasa.

"The four pieces are complemented by the popular Live Literature Project, with its three set book plays of Lion and the Jewel, Colour of Hope and Importance of being Ernest as well as the finals of the Plan High Schools Drama Competition.

"The pieces are as different in theme as they are in form and style and in terms of issues tackled, they range from simple relationships to complex ideas of womanhood, succession, leadership and disability," he said.

Plays to be showcased include UMbiko kaMadlenya, a historical play commissioned by Intwasa Arts Festival and Bulawayo City Council, a South African play Four Generations, an autobiographical piece that traces the actor/writer Kurt Egeholf's family life through four generations and finally Jasen Mphepo's 1 000 Miles.

The show will begin with women, words and wine show on Tuesday, a unique platform for women voices, through music and poetry where women artistes take the audiences through their lives and experiences. It will feature artistes like Nomashawakazi Damasane, Zana Kay, Sthandazile Dube, Xtreme, Thandy Dhlana, Nobuntu and many others while women will be sipping wine and nibbling at some cheese.

The official opening of the festival will be held on Wednesday at the Chibuku stage with various artistes set to perform and officially launch this year's theme "Unforgettable".

Jazz lovers are set to be given a rare treat at Rainbow Hotel on Thursday night at an event dubbed the spring Jazz show featuring Tariro Negitare, the Outfit band, Cool Crooners, Jam Signal and many more.

Local comedians will keep the crowds in stitches at a comedy night for the second time in the life of Intwasa on Saturday in a show that will feature Babongile Skhonjwa, Ntando Van Moyo "the general", H Oaka Libo C Ntaka, Doc Vikela, and Zwexy Kenny Mackena among others.

The Large City Hall will host probably the biggest event of the festival "Bayethe Bulawayo Concert'' featuring Sulumani Chimbetu, Mukoomba, Ndolwane Super Sounds, Iyasa, Edith We Utonga, Rute Mbangwa, Tina Watyoka, Albert Nyathi, Jeys Marabini and Sandra Ndebele. The concert celebrates Bulawayo's 120 years, Intwasa's 10 years, human creativity and diversity of cultures.

Jeys Marabini confirmed participation adding that he was ready to set the house on fire with his live performance. He said the show would "just be unforgettable."