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Mokoomba

Stories by Entertainment Reporters
This year’s edition of the Harare International Festival of the Arts (Hifa) promises a lot of thrills and spills with both local and international artists billed to take show goers on a roller-coaster ride of fun and entertainment.

Running under the theme, “Articulate”, the six day cultural fete is also a chance for local artistes to articulate themselves and their abundant creative talent.

While the international acts are without doubt eye-catching, it is also the “mouth-watering” line-up of local talent on offer that will leave art lovers craving for more.

After all, local is lekker, as they put.

World-travelled Zimbabwean Afro-fusion outfit, Mokoomba, will serenade music lovers as the opening act of the festival with their infectious rhythms that cut across boundaries and race.

The group is not new to the festival having performed in previous editions and this year they return fired up for the event.

Another crowd favourite is the suave Afro-jazz crooner and guitarist, Victor Kunonga who collaborates with his Persian counterpart Ramin Khalatbari on Saturday at the Zol Main Stage starting at 2pm.

This is not the first time that Kunonga — famed for hits like “Ndanyengetedzwa NaMai” and “Maidarirei?” — has shared the stage with the Persian virtuoso who specialises in playing the cajon and sitar instruments. The combination of Zimbabwean and Persian music is something to look forward to.

Talented diva, Tariro Negitare will also make her presence felt at the festival and also represent Zimbabwean female artiste when she stages a performance on Sunday — which is the official Mutual Day — at the Lays Global Stage in a show that will start 11am.

She has been described as the diva of “Zimbabwe Afro soul music”.

If you are one of those people who love multi-genre collaborations, then the combination of Eve Kawadza and The Marondera Schools Orchestra is something not to miss.

With Peterhouse and Watershed Colleges making up the orchestra, with Eve being part of the menu, their show to be held on Sunday Old Mutual Day, at the NMB Recital Room at 6pm is bound to present music lovers with “a fresh, innovative and stylish multi-genre collaboration of Jazz. The return after last year’s performance”.

Another mixed media production will be taking place at the ZB Bank Reps Theatre on Wednesday at 10am and this will feature Kuenda Productions using dance, theatre, music among other art forms to tells the story of “young people living in Zimbabwe and Germany”.

There are, of course, a plethora of other local acts that will be happening at Hifa and show-goers will be spoilt for choice. The group was in Germany a month ago where they put up a scintillating performance.