Summer-time is here again. Is it time for a holiday? Is it time to get up and dance? Do we have reason to celebrate? Are there any music festivals worth going to?
There is no need to ask these obvious questions as we already know that Zimbabweans do love their music festivals and come September/October, the country explodes with music and dance.
The 2023 music festival season is about to be in full swing, and the coming months leading to Christmas 2023 are bursting with so many events that even the most frenzied festival-goers won’t know where to start.
In the past two years there was a lull in these music activities as they were marred by the Aids pandemic as well as the unavailability of electricity in the country.
Now that this pandemic and electricity challenges seem to have gone for now, it is time to be back in the groove. However, there seems to be another pandemic on the cards coming soon. It is that of climate change.
Most music festivals are outdoor events held during the summer. Given climate change conditions throughout the world, Zimbabwe is no exception from this pandemic. There is a likelihood that climate change will affect music festivals this year. Will rainfall, floods, veldfires, wind or drought affect the holding of music festivals in Zimbabwe this year? We don’t know. Should this happen, there is need to adapt to this change as music festivals are vulnerable to such phenomena.
Gone are the days when music festivals used to be held in either Harare’s Gwanzura or Rufaro stadium in the 1970’s where groups such as The Eye of Liberty, The Sound Effects, Pepsi Combo, Sweet Chariot, The Four Sounds, The Whitstones, Electric Mud, The Groovy Union, The Soul and Blues Union and the 2D Sounds took part.
The main promoter of such festivals was Jack Sadza who was instrumental in organising the Nyamanhindi Music Festival which he branded Rock Band Contest in Mutare where the 2D Sounds band featuring Fungai Malianga and Jethro Shasha on drums took the trophy.
Sadza later became Oliver Mtukudzi’s manager. Many music lovers of the time attended these festivals because the bands featured material from copyright rock music originally done by Western musicians such as Jimi Hendrix, Joe Cocker, The Who, Wishbone Ash, Deep Purple, Pink Floyd and Crosby Stills and Nash. This copied rock music made local musicians such as guitarist Manu Kambani (who imitated Jimi Hendrix) famous.
Today’s music festivals have taken a different turn. Many musicians at these festivals now play their own original songs.
Zimbabwean music festivals are an integral part of the country's art and culture scene. Nothing compares to a good festival: loud world-class music, food, countless smiling strangers, the sun shining down your back, and all-around good vibes.
Music Festivals such as the Victoria Falls Carnival, Intwasa Arts Festival, Jacaranda Festival, Castle Lager Braai Festival, Chibuku Neshamwari Dance Festival, Bulawayo Cultural Festival, The Zimbabwe Jazz Community Trust Music Festival, and the Castle Lager National Festival are among the top entertaining summer activities in Zimbabwe.
It is now five years since we last enjoyed Hifa (The Harare International Festival of the Arts) established by Manuel Bagorro which took place in Zimbabwe in April each year between 1999 and 2018. This festival was specially curated to bring together international acts alongside local Zimbabwean artistes. The performances included Traditional Zimbabwean beats, Zimdancehall, Sungura, funk, mbira, jazz, opera, Afrobeat, theatre, dance, and lots more! Known to be a major contributor to arts and culture, this six-day event featured the very best of Zimbabwe. However, HIFA no longer exists and without going into the politics of why this happened, many arts lovers are disappointed.
This week the Shoko Festival in Zimbabwe has announced what it calls the ‘’Take Back” Festival - a call to young Zimbabweans to reclaim their space and art to create a better future.
The line-up for the 2023 edition of the event is set to be held in Harare and Chitungwiza from September 28th to 30th.
Confirmed headlining acts include local artists Bling4, Gemma Griffiths and Nutty O. They will perform together with Jordan Moozy from Botswana and Xabiso Vili from South Africa.
The festival will feature a variety of events, including the opening Mash Up Night, the popular Shoko Comedy Roast, the Hub Unconference and the Peace In The Hood concert.
“This year we are giving the people an inspiring three days of powerful music, thought-provoking talks and riotous laughter,” Shoko Festival director Farai ‘Comrade Fatso’ said. .
On 29 September, Reps Theatre will also host Shoko Roast, with former Zimbabwean legislator Temba Mliswa as a featured guest artist. Top comedian Doc Vikela will host the roast, alongside R. Peels (musician), Candice Mwakalyelye ( former Zi.FM broadcaster) and Ricky Fire ( Zimdancehall musician) as panellists.
The festival will close on September 30 with Peace In The Hood, a day-long concert in Chitungwiza’s Unit L suburb. The event will feature performances from Bling 4, Gemma Griffiths, Nutty O, Bagga, Mycole Biller, Hwinza, and others.
Designed by a team calling itself Magamba Network, Shoko Festival will include some non-music events. It is a celebration of free expression, urban art and alternative youth culture. The organisers say the 2023 event remains true to its values of providing a platform for both emerging and established artistes to share the same stage.
Also taking place in the capital, The Stanbic Jacaranda Music Festival will be held from October 6th to the 8th this year at the Old Hararians Sports Club. The Festival’s organiser, Walter Wanyanya has appointed musician Tariro NeGitare ( meaning Tariro with the guitar) from being just a performing artist and team member to be its festival manager.
Walter Wanyanya, who is the Ngoma Nehosho founder, had this to say about Tariro’s appointment: ”Working closely with Tariro NeGitare has been a marvel and her elevation to her new post was a no-brainer”. She is obviously well suited for that role. He added: “She has been part of the Jacaranda Music Festival team as the head artistes liaison officer, but as the festival is growing, the need to have her move office to be the festival manager arose. She's a very capable leader and has many years' experience working with artistes through her initiative, Magitare Trust and events that she has been running for many years,"
"Her role will mean that she will take the load off me in many of the critical aspects of the festival and the injection of fresh new blood will see us improving in many areas that Tari is good at. I've worked with her on many productions already and she's more than capable of leading the team.
I'm happy to have her on board and I'm excited for what we have coming now and in the future," he added.
An elated Tariro paid homage to Wanyanya for elevating her to the position of Jacaranda Music Festival manager.
"I'm excited to announce my new appointment as the festival manager for Jacaranda Music Festival. Thank you, Walter Wanyanya and team, for trusting me with this big vision," she said.
Tariro NeGitare's appointment comes after Stanbic Jacaranda Music Festival (SJMF) announced their second batch of performers who will mesmerise patrons at Old Hararians Sports Club in the capital city from October 6 to 8. These include South Africa's Daliwonga, Ndlovu Youth Choir, Murumba Pitch as well as local talent, Ex-Q, Jason Le Roux, Gwevedzi, Gary Tight, and Those Guys Vacho.
They join previously unveiled artistes, Alexio Kawara and The Shades of Black, Sylent Nqo, Norman Masamba, Chiweddar, In Total Band, South Africa's Judith Sephuma and Ami Faku.
The Stanbic Jacaranda Music Festival which has undeniably become the biggest music festival in Harare held its first edition in 2018. Since then, it has been bringing regional and local artistes together.
In Zimbabwe, music festivals although independently organised by people outside government circles are particularly useful as they create employment for unemployed youth and many artistes. Festivals also provide a platform for emerging and established local artistes to showcase their talents, collaborate, and learn from each other. In addition,music festivals also offer a range of activities that attract both locals and tourists, stimulating economic growth and generating revenue for local businesses. For as long as we have ZESA in the country, the festival beat must go on!
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