Intwasa celebrates female artistes

Langalakhe Mabena
Despite facing financial challenges, Bulawayo’s celebrated Intwasa Arts Festival koBulawayo managed to pull up and stage a number of events starting from 27 up to 30 November, with Women Wine and Words event which is slated for tonight (29 November) expected to be the major highlight of the festivities.

The movement which celebrates female creatives who are doing well and managed to uplift the country’s flag internationally, will see globetrotting Imbube ensemble Nobuntu, Zarae, Chioniso Tsikirayi, Sonkomose, Vuyo Brown and Um’Africakazi taking to the stage.

Versatile creative Lady Tshawe will be the host of the much-anticipated gig. Director of the festival Raisedon Baya acknowledged the financial problems faced by any player in the industry and gave credit to their sponsors Culture Fund and the European Union for making this year’s edition possible.
He said Women, Wine and Words is expected to unite arts enthusiasts by coming together and appreciate the great work that has been done by female creatives in representing Bulawayo and the country very well in different parts of the world.

“What is inevitable to mention is the economic challenges that the arts industry faced this year. We have seen numerous events on the yearly calendar not taking place because of lack of funds. As we are hosting Intwasa this year, we give credit to our main funders Culture Fund and EU for supporting us.
“Women, Wine and Words is a flagship that gives a platform to female creatives who are doing well in their creative spaces. The event has been taking place for many years as part of Intwasa and we have attracted massive audiences, something that we are looking forward to achieving tonight.

“Yes, the event always sees female creatives taking to the stage but we encourage both women and men to come and support as part of the audience,” said Baya.
This year, Intwasa started by staging community outreach programmes as they staged two events in Cowdray Park and Nkulumane as a way of building up their audience ahead of the annual Intwasa event which traditionally takes place in September.

On 27 November, Intwasa held the Bulawayo Lensfest at the Art Gallery which saw numerous speakers including Chronicle’s multi-award-winning Arts journalist Bongani Ndlovu, blogger Kudakwashe Takundwa, Cleo CNC, among others, leading the discussion on different topics that have to do with the photography business.

On 28 November, a Women in Arts Indaba was held at the Gallery, attracting quite a number of female artistes and stakeholders.
With Women, Wine and Words taking place tonight, Intwasa will close the festival tomorrow with a poetry slam which will be held at the National Gallery in Bulawayo.