Zimbabwe: Amplifaya Festival set for launch in September

The festival, organised by online media company earGROUND and Gateway Stream Music, seeks to promote new voices and diversity as well as create a safe space for young consumers of entertainment. The event is also designed to nurture and amplify the next generation of music superstars and connect them with the mass market, youthful consumers, and prepare and propel them to the global stage.

It will feature various forms of art including music, fashion, dance, skateboarding and graffiti. According to the organisers, the festival will feature young, popular and the most promising artists from across the country with a full line-up expected to be announced soon.

“The festival has been necessitated by an increase in new amazing talents in Zimbabwe across genres over the past few years,” earGROUND founder and chief curator Plot Mhako told Music In Africa. “Sadly a lot of these emerging talents are lacking support to grow their careers, professionally manage their brands and realise their full potential.

“The festival seeks to give them a professional experience to broaden their imagination and dreams to become global stars at a time when Africa is rising musically. Amplifaya will become an annual festival and we are super grateful to incorporate institutions like Gateway Stream who are investing and supporting local artists and creative initiatives.”

Amplifaya Festival will feature the Amplifaya Creative Entrepreneurship Programme (ACEP), an initiative that is tailored to provide training, space, support to young non-professional creatives across all disciplines.

“We will host an extensive training workshop the day before the main festival, where the participating artists will receive a robust and empowering guidance from industry professionals. They will trained on creative business, artist management, mental health issues, substance abuse, digital innovation and how to become a better live performer,” the organisers said.

Find more about Amplifaya Festival here and here.