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Manicaland Correspondent
MUTARE-based Zimbabwe International School Arts Festival (ZISAF) has been invited to represent the country at the Mazibuye Heritage Day Expo Festival in South Africa next month.

In an interview with The Herald recently, ZISAF director Mr Taurai Moyo said the heritage organisation had been invited by a South African non-profit- making organisation, Together as One Community Development, to represent Zimbabwe from September 22-23.

“The event is called Mazibuye Heritage Day Festival and it is being held for the first time,” he said.

“African countries and those from other regions will be showcasing their acts.

“Chenhaka Arts, a subsidiary of Zimbabwe International Schools Arts Festival Trust, will be taking 10 artistes to perform in South Africa.”

At least 20 countries will be participating at the festival, with most of them coming from Africa, while some are international.

Mr Moyo said preparations for the event were at an advanced stage, as they would be leaving for South Africa on September 21.

“This is not our first time to take part in such festivals, as we have a mutual understanding with the organisers of the festival,” he said.

“Last year we supplied them with musical instruments such as mbira and djembe drums, which they used in their schools festival and we adjudicated at the competition, which they organised for schools in Johannesburg.”

Mr Moyo said they would be exhibiting products such as mbira and drums during the festival and would perform mbira music, mbakumba, mbende, jerusarema and chinyambera dances.

Established in 2013, ZISAF is an innovative creative arts organisation with experience in planning and implementing sustainable projects and programmes for the development of communities.

It focuses on gender activism and mainstreaming, advocacy in early childhood marriage and programmes in climate change and green promotion through the use of indigenous and natural resources knowledge systems and practices.

The organisation uses culture clubs and jam sessions in all Chenhaka Arts centres in different districts of Manicaland Province, which are platforms for students to share problems affecting them through use of creative arts as a way of communication.

On the other hand, Together As-One Community Development is an events company established in 2003 to enhance the standard of performing arts in Ekurhuleni to restore hope and dignity of young hopefuls.