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MARIA WILSON

Yeukai karengezeka Entertainment Reporter
Pan-African financial services provider BancABC has pledged to continue supporting the Harare International Festival of the Arts. The festival that will run from April 29 to May 4 will go under the theme “Switch On”.
Managing director of BancABC Zimbabwe, Hashmon Matemera praised Hifa organisers for giving artists a platform to be the best they can be.

“We have remained strong in partnering with Hifa because we believe artists always have something to say to the society.

“Artists are committed people and an image of the society and have the ability to interpret the happenings of life that many of us may not be gifted to do.

“Hifa has a strong cultural history and we hope artists will embrace this year’s festival of switching on and market themselves,” he said.

Hifa executive director Maria Wilson said they were focusing on four major areas.

“At our opening party all our stakeholders will be given an opportunity to contribute something to the Tokwe- Mukosi flood victims who are living in very poor conditions.

“We are also going to bring in 300 underprivileged youths from different areas to be part of the fun at the festival,” she said.

Wilson said although Hifa is a time to celebrate the arts, it is also a platform to help others who are in need especially the poor and the underpriviledged youths.

Hifa was recently nominated by CNN as among among the top seven must-see festivals in Africa due to its diversity, entertainment as well as educational value.

Hifa continues to connect international artistic directors, music producers and promoters with local artists thus helping the growth of the local arts scene as well.

The six-day annual festival and workshop programme showcases the very best of local and international arts and culture in a comprehensive festival programme of theatre, dance, music, circus, street performances and spoken word.

A lot of artists have used it as a stepping stone.