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Walter Mswazie in MASVINGO
Masvingo-born mbira artiste Tafadzwa Matamba and his Canadian wife, Amy, are set to host a cultural festival in Vancouver in July to raise funds to assist people affected by Cyclone Idai in Manicaland province. The couple, who are in the country to meet cultural artistes in Masvingo and Muzarabani, said they have planned a number of activities at their Little Zimbabwe Farm, a seven-acre piece of land, in Duncan City, for Zimbabwean artistes. Matamba said after learning of the tropical cyclone which hit Chimanimani, Chipinge and Masvingo claiming more than 340 lives and leaving about 300 people missing, the couple mobilised assistance from their base.

“We have come to Zimbabwe, to visit some artistes who we think can come to Canada on cultural exchange programmes,” he said.

“After learning of Cyclone-Idai tragedy, people in Canada were also touched and we decided to do something for the victims.
“We have decided to hold a cultural festival, dubbed Chimanimani Arts Festival, at Little Zimbabwe Farm in Vancouver, Canada.

“We have tentatively set down July as the month for the extravaganza”.
Amy said through the Zimbabwe Music Society, they had approached the Mayor of Duncan over the iinvitation of local artistes to that country for the festival.

“We have been given the green light to host Zimbabwean artistes by our Mayor, Al Siebring, as well as the Member of Parliament of Cowichan-Malahat-Langford constituency.
“We have been given letters of support and this will assist us in processing visas for the artistes to travel to Canada for the festival,” said Amy.

She said prior to the July activity, they will also invite mbira artistes, Forward Kwenda of Matemai and Mbira Dzenharira group, to travel to that country for a three-day performance.

She said the couple had since met Masvingo Mayor Councillor Collen Maboke whom they asked to consider a twinning arrangement with the City of Duncan.

The couple, which has published two books in Canada, said it will have a one-day cultural festival at Charles Austin Theatre in Masvingo before recording a song in Harare the following day.

The duo also had an opportunity to play mbira in front of some shoppers in the CBD, who marvelled at the way Amy has mastered Shona.