Being a huge fan of Chimurenga Music, I had told myself on countless occasions that come what may, when Thomas Mapfumo returns from exile I would attend his home coming show without fail. Having a conversation with him was however way out of my wildest imaginations but thanks to his longtime friend Cosmas Zamangwe this…
Thomas Mapfumo Backstage Conversations
Call for a comprehensive arts policy in Zimbabwe
By Zandile Zaza Ndlovu Zimbabwe Arts practitioners have made an urgent call for the establishment of a comprehensive arts policy that will guide operations within the sector. A dearth of arts policies that speak to artistes, lack of knowledge on various art forms by local consumers and challenges on building and harnessing audiences locally and…
ZIFF extends call for film submission
THE Zimbabwe International Film and Festival Trust (ZIFFT) has extended a call for submission to filmmakers for its flagship programme the Zimbabwe International Film Festival (ZIFF) slated for September 1 to 8, as the festival marks its 20th anniversary. ZIFF director, Nakai Matema, made a call in a statement stating that the deadline for the…
Dangarembga’s Nervous Conditions among most influential 100 books
AWARD-WINNING novelist and filmmaker, Tsitsi Dangarembga’s blockbuster novel Nervous Conditions has been listed among the BBC Culture’s 100 stories that shaped the world in which it was pegged at number 66. Dangarembga yesterday said she was overwhelmed by the development and the congratulatory messages she had received in the wake of the listing. “I’m overwhelmed…
Zimbabwean Artists Exhibit At Dak’Art
The 13th Dakar Biennale, popularly known as Dak’Art, has returned for its 2018 edition. With an upsurge in valuable content and context from Zimbabwe, this cycle of the Biennale has three artists appearing, namely Kudzanai Chiurai, Admire Kamudzengerere and Dana Whabira. The exhibition features “We Need New Names”, Chiurai’s 2017 showing at the National Gallery…
Zimbabwean Museums Risk Collapse
NATIONAL Gallery of Zimbabwe (NGZ) deputy director and chief curator, Raphael Chikukwa has said museums in the country risk collapse due to a raft of factors, including poor management and lack of funding. Chikukwa, who was speaking at a discussion on the future of African museums during the International Museums Day on Friday last week,…
History of the Tengenenge Sculpture Community and how Bloemfield wanted to keep it in the dark ages
Tom Bloemfield is eulogized for having ‘persuaded’ his farm workers to, “try their hand at sculpture” purely for altruistic reasons; out of concern for their livelihoods and after he became aware of a huge deposit of black serpentine (rock) situated on a hill on his farm. This, however, is a fallacy. His farm workers were…
UK-based Zimbabwean women in reality show.
A new online reality show, Zimbabweans With Attitude, Glam & Style (ZWAGS) which premiered on April 14th 2018 in London reflects on the glamorous life of UK-based Zimbabwean stylist and aspiring model Precious “Cookies” Matare and fashion designer Gladys Smith as well as their friends and love interests. The show which was met with rave…
#KumushaFringe To Light Up Rural Dema
Dema, Seke — The inaugural Kumusha Fringe Festival 2018 to be held at Makumbe Hotel Gardens at Dema Growth Point in Dema, Seke has set the peri-urban community on the edge with expectations of the multipronged festival — the first of its kind in this area — running high. Chief Seke will officially open the…
Contribution of art to travel, tourism and the Zimbabwe economy
BY SIMBARASHE RUSSELL SIYAKURIMA To argue the contribution of art in travel and tourism, one has to understand the two factors in question. Art and Tourism. In very simplistic terminology, Travel and Tourism has to do with the sightseeing, exporting the scenic national natural beauty, promoting international understanding through popular cultural exchange programs, etc. The…
