Zimbabwe: Nyanga Arts Festival set for launch in October

Nyanga Arts Festival, which will run under the theme Cultural Heritage Tourism and Climate Change, seeks to celebrate Nyanga dances such as njekunje, yonganyonga and muchongoyo. Artists that will perform at the festival include Jah Prayzah, Feli Nandi, MC Abisha Palmer, Othnell Mangoma Moyo, Sarungano & The Storytellers Band, and Music According to Percussion ensemble.

The festival will kick-off with a music business workshop courtesy of Nhimbe Trust and Music Crossroads Academy Zimbabwe, in partnership with Music In Africa Foundation’s Sounds Connects Fund. Besides musical performances, the festival will also feature theatre and visual arts activities.

Nyanga Arts Festival director Josh Nyapimbi says heritage preservation is at the core of the event.

“Nyanga Arts Festival is highly inclusive to uplift Zimbabwean cultural and arts practices while promoting and showcasing Nyanga as a tourist destination of choice,” Nyapimbi said. “The festival will be staged at two venues, the Montclair Hotel and Casino and Chief Saunyama’s homestead.”

Montclair Hotel general manager Brian Nyakutombwa said: “We are very excited at the opportunity to be hosting the inaugural Nyanga Arts Festival. It will be the first time the people of Nyanga will be witnessing such an event, and playing host to a lot of visitors from other parts of the country.

“So we are excited about the preparations that are going on, and the responses we are receiving from the market. Everyone is excited that we are going to have the opportunity to be entertained by some of the top trending Zimbabwean artists. We look forward to some musical fireworks and Nyanga is going to be a hive of activity.”

earGROUND founder and chief curator Plot Mhako said: “We are excited about this partnership with Nhimbe Trust for Nyanga Arts Festival 2022. The festival resonates with our vision of amplifying creative voices and celebrating artistic excellence and diversity around the country. As an online media partner we see this as a strategic partnership which will afford more people to experience the beauty of the festival. This is in line with the national music strategy synergies amongst stakeholders in the industry to create more value, growth and impact.”