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Diana Samkange on stage

Tafadzwa Zimoyo Entertainment Reporter
The Women’s Arts Festival that was held at the Alliance Francaise over the weekend ended on a high note with some surprise fireworks display. The colourful festival saw top female musicians closing the show with a concert before an art exhibition was held at the National Museums. The fully packed venue saw Pauline Gundidza opening the act, dishing out her latest and old songs.

It was like a battle of the divas as Diana Samkange, Eve Kawadza, Pah Chihera, Farida, Edith WeUtonga and Jean Masters, among others, put up scintillating performances.
Award-winner Cynthia Mare and dancehall queen Lady Squanda did not show up.

In an interview with The Herald Entertainment, Mare said she had not signed any contract with the organisers.
“I wasn’t paid for the show but they advertised me on the posters.

“We had not signed any agreement though,” she said. One of the show organisers, Wellins Chimusimbe, confirmed on Mare’s case only.
“For Cynthia’s case it was because of contractual issues. Initially when the poster was designed she had confirmed coming but did not sign the contract but as for Lady Squanda, I don’t know why she didn’t show up because we were expecting her.

“I was just told that she was not feeling well on that day,” he said.
“We paid all artistes on the day after they got off the stage.”

However, Chimusimbe said he was happy with the huge turnout, especially men who came to support.
“We hosted the event in a bid to promote women in arts. The three-day festival saw different issues in arts being celebrated from music, theatre, poetry, and dance to speeches.
“It was for women by women and we wanted to see how they can do it without the men,” he said.

He said they chose the theme “Testing the Limits” as a way to give women the chance to rule the arts sector.
“The festival was a success as everything went according to plan. The exhibition was a belated International Day of Peace expo commemoration.
“This is our first time to hold such a festival and all went well,” he said.