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Kundai Marunya Arts Correspondent
It’s that time again when schools battle it out for top spots in music, fashion, storytelling, dance, poetry and theatre performances at the sixth annual “Let Them Festival” which kicks-off today at Harare Polytechnic.

This time around it won’t only be the usual over 30 local schools participating but there will also be an additional poet from Botswana and a young designer from South Africa, expected to share their talent during the fest.
Festival director Chido Musasiwa said the festival is attracting regional participation.

“From South Africa, a St Katharine’s School student, Langelihle Motsi designed a mascot for the festival that has been made into a giant puppet and will be used during the festival.

“She has come through to do the final touches of this mascot with local artists and Let Them Trust,” said Musasiwa.
The festival was also supposed to host two schools from Botswana but they are no longer participating due to some logistics constraints.

“From Botswana we were supposed to host Pekenene which was supposed to come as CJSS Traditional Dance Group and Masunga Senior Secondary which was supposed to come with a choir. All have since cancelled their participation but we hope to have them next time,” she said.

The schools were coming through Let Them Festival’s partnership with Association of Botswana Schools Performing Arts (ABOSPA).

New to the festival this year will be mbira competition.
“The competition is for female students only and the winner will receive a personal guitar and 10 Mbira instruments for her school. This was a donation from Ms H Trust,” said Musasiwa.

Also performing at the two day festival are several local artiste among them Albert Nyathi, Ba Shupi, Sniper Storm, Ignatius Mabasa, Music Crossroads Mbira ensemble, John Cole, Ammara Brown and Jah Signal.

Let Them festival is an annual schools arts showcase that nurtures young artistic talent. This year the festival has also reached out to disadvantage children donating 250 adjustable spectacles to pre-screened children through their partners Agora Zimbabwe.