Jonathan Mbiriyamveka Entertainment Reporter
Preparations for this year’s Mashonaland East Cultural Festival scheduled for October 29 to November 2 at Murehwa Arts Centre are on course with several artistes lined up to take part. Organised by the National Training and Conference of the Arts in Zimbabwe, the festival will cover live performances by artistes, food displays, traditional dances, visual arts exhibitions and skills training.
Cuthbert Maziwa, the festival creative advisor confirmed the annual fête was well on course.
“The festival has been in existence since 2010 and is growing with each year. We are pleased with the progress so far and there is a diverse line of performing artistes and exhibitions to enjoy.
“As you might be aware we aim at creating a vibrant community based festival dedicated to identifying, showcasing and celebrating cultural and artistic expressions, creativity and human endeavour.
“We also aim at among other things to help secure Mashonaland East’s reputation as a world class cultural destination, celebrating its pivotal role in music, the arts, culture and innovation,” Maizwa said.
The popular Miss Culture contest is also expected to take centre stage as well as exhibition of wild animals, courtesy of the National Parks and Wildlife Department.
Through its cultural tourism initiative, the festival goers will have a glimpse of the scenic sites in Murehwa district such as tour drives to Murewa Caves, Natural Springs, Hurungwe Hill, a herbal project, and a traditional village (built within the precincts of the festival).
The festival will also host a bira under the auspices of traditional leaders (vana Sabhuku, vana Muchinda) amid pomp and fanfare.
NATCAZ was established in 1994 by artists, arts administrators, promoters and arts technicians as a non-profit making advocacy, lobbying and training body for the arts.
The arts organisation also contributes to community development through employment creation in the community through skills empowerment in cultural industries in areas such as visual arts, batik, screen printing, tie and dye, crafts making, performing arts, traditional dances, garment making and textile design among others.
One of its main objective is to foster the growth of the arts, culture industry and improve the status of the artists and dedicated to the growth of arts and cultural industries in Zimbabwe.
It also seeks is to build the capacity of arts and cultural industries to become a competitive sector that can contribute significantly towards the GDP and reduce unemployment.
Through its research on the state of the arts in Zimbabwe, NATCAZ maintains a comprehensive database of its members comprising of individual artists, arts groups and arts associations.
So far, it is in the process of applying to become a member of the International Network for Cultural Diversity (INCD) to enable it to facilitate cultural exchange programs with other members. Currently, it sits on the National Manpower Advisory Council (NAMACO) sector committee on Arts, Crafts and Antiques.