The program will comprise of cultural shows, expositions, ceremonies and performances from noon onwards in the general vicinity of the festival and on the main stage and will constitute the official opening of the festival.

There will be a sunset gathering of the 5 local chiefs in a festival blessing ceremony; the festival will then be opened by the Rev. P Damasane followed by a joint performance encapsulating the “youth and culture in harmony” theme for this years festival.

The evening program will include performances from Mutare based mbira ensemble Ntswaitswai Crew, Mokoomba and Ngangu Band – thereafter DJ Man Souljah will entertain the crowds with a selection of ‘old school’ hits.

Come and enjoy a taste of Zimbabwean cultural heritage and be part of this celebration at this years Chimanimani Arts Festival.

The free entry festival regularly features Zimbabwe’s best known artists and performers; whilst this years festival welcomes Barcelona  based Spanish street performers Pa lo Q’Sea who will use mythology, tradition, ritual elements and legends to realize a contemporary  ’Fiesta” featuring recyclable large puppets, stilt-walkers, unicyclists, jugglers, drummers and acrobats on both Saturday and  Sunday mornings.

Pa lo Q’Sea(‘For whatever it’s needed)  was founded in 1989 . Their most popular production “Rompe Candela” has been presented at more  than 300 venues worldwide including Canada, Colombia, Australia, New Caledonia, and throughout Europe.

The 3 member group will spend 2 weeks working with Harare acrobatic troupe ZimZam, Mutare based tumblers Aqua and local Chimanimani  talents to present a new version of ‘Rompe Candela’ (Break the Fire) at the Chimanimani Festival for this fiesta spectacular

Pa lo Q’Sea  are supported by the Embassy of Spain and Espana Cooperacion Cultural Exterior who were also responsible for bringing musical trio Demachena to last years festival.

The festival opens on Friday 21 May with a cultural exposition in celebration of International Day for Cultural Diversity and Development during  which Zimbabwean culture will be on prominent display; and continues throughout the weekend with a program of music, theatre, film, poetry,  omedy, dance and workshops.

Feature acts include Suluman Chimbetu, Andy Brown, Outspoken, Makoomba, Junior Bantan and Edgar Langevelt plus groups from the  Flame, Bocapa and Music Crossroads talent networks and Mutare and Chimanimani based groups.  There will be a special guest appearance by  ‘Tuku’ alongside the Ay Band in tribute to his son Sam Mtukudzi; who’s recent loss has deprived everyone of a sparkling gem of a talent.

Arts and craft stalls and local foodstuffs will be available at outlets in and around the main-stage venue which is located on the village green.

Chimanimani is a tourist attraction, and surrounding places of interest include Tessa’s Pools and Bridal Veil Falls , whilst Chimanimani also offers some of the best one-day and overnight mountain walking anywhere in the world.

Steve Brown
Tel: +263(712)404019

Chimanimani Arts Festival 2010  – Friday 21 May – “Culture Day” – from 1200hrs onwards:

Saturday 22 May
1100-1200 – Street Parade – Fiesta – Pa lo Q’Sea & Friends present “Rompe Candela”
1200-1220 -  Choir – Chimanimani
1230-1330 – Makoomba
1340-1420 – Ngangu Band
1430-1500 – Gwinyai Trust
1520-1600 – TBA
1630-1720 – Music Crossroads (TBA)
1740-1830 – Ndapura Unanzva
1850-1950 – Edith Wautonga – Flame Project
2000-2030 – Edgar Langeveldt
2040-2140 – Outspoken+the Essence
2200-2330 – Andy Brown + the Storm
2350-0120 – Junior Bantan

Sunday 23 May
1100-1200 – Street Parade – Fiesta
1200-1250 – John Pfumajena – Bocapa Project
1310-1400 – Gospel
1410-1440 – ZimZam Acrobats
1450-1530 – TBA
1550-1650 – Band of Mutare
1700-1800 – Radiation
1820-1930 – Ay Band (special guest Oliver Mtukudzi)
1950-2040 – Makoomba
2100-2230 – Suluman Chimbetu + Orchestra Dendera Kings
2250-2330 – Senior Musaraketa

Poetry+Theatre – CAFT office

Film – Msasa Cafe + Hotel -   screening sponsored by the US Embassy Dept of Public Affairs and daily showings of a selection of films

Workshops – CAFT Office – Fri/Sat – Creative Writing/AIDS awareness/Spoken Word/Drumming/Meet the Artist

Carlos de France  was the bassist, founder and composer for a  Spanish group called Objetivo Birmania that led a musical explosion in Spain during the ’80’s and were responsible for many of the biggest hits of Spanish Pop in the 80’s and the 90’s.

In 1996, Carlos moved to Miami where he worked for Universal as a producer and for Sony as a songwriter as well as writing music for film and adverts.

He has more than 120 songs published and interpreted by some of the most famous Latin American and Spanish artists; whilst he now enjoys a career as a singer and showman in Spain since his return from America.

Carlos will assist in running a series of workshops with Crossroads groups – from among the participants artists will be selected to perform at the Chimanimani Arts Festival and apply what they have learned in a festival environment,

The promoters of Music Crossroads believe that the skills learned in workshops of this nature can be applied by participating groups to further their prospects both within the Crossroads talent network, as well as for the artist’s personal skill development.

Chimanimani Arts Festival ris committed to providing a platform for emerging talents and in addition to Music Crossroads will also feature groups from the talent  development initiatives set up by Pamberi Trust – the Bocapa and Flame projects.

The festival will take place from May 21-23 and will feature a host of popular Zimbabwean musicians performing at what surely must rank as the most scenic venue for a festival in Zimbabwe.

The festival remains free entry and promises an exciting line-up of music, theatre, dance, poetry, comedy, film and workshops throughout the weekend.

The annual free entry festival regularly features Zimbabwe’s best known artists and performers; whilst this years festival will also feature Barcelona based Spanish street performers Pa lo Q’Sea who will use  mythology, tradition, ritual elements and legends to realize a contemporary ’Fiesta” featuring recyclable large puppets, stilt-walkers, unicyclists, jugglers, drummers and acrobats on both Saturday and Sunday mornings.

Pa lo Q’Sea (‘For whatever it’s needed)  was founded in 1989 . Their most popular production “Rompe Candela” has been presented at more than 300 venues worldwide including Canada, Colombia, Australia, New Caledonia, and throughout Europe.

The 4 member group will work with Harare acrobatic troupe ZimZam, Mutare based tumblers Aqua and local Chimanimani talents to present a new version of ‘Rompe Candela’ (Break the Fire) at the Chimanimani Festival for this fiesta spectacular

Pa lo Q’Sea are supported by the Embassy of Spain and Espana Cooperacion Cultural Exterior who were also responsible for bringing musical trio Demachena to last years festival.

The festival opens on Friday 21 May with a cultural exposition in celebration of International Day for Cultural Diversity and Development during which Zimbabwean culture will be on prominent display; and continues throughout the weekend with a program of music, theatre, film, poetry, comedy, dance and workshops. Arts and craft stalls and local foodstuffs will be available at outlets in and around the main-stage venue which is located on the village green.

The 2010  edition of Chimanimani Arts Festival will run under the theme “Youth and Culture in Harmony” and takes place from May 21-23rd.

The festival, held in Chimanimani on the village green, is free entry and the local crowds turn out in large numbers to enjoy 3 days of non-stop music and artistic entertainment involving over 30 acts and
more than 200 artists.

The festival opens with a traditional chiefs blessing ceremony on Friday May 21st; International Day for Cultural Diversity and Development -  this ceremony provides a wonderful opportunity to experience Zimbabwe’s traditions and cultures. The ceremony is led by a traditional chiefs of the 5 chiefdoms from Chimanimani district (chief Ngorima, chief Chikukwa, chief Muusha, chief Mutambara, and chief Ndima).

Traditional song, dance, rites and invocations are delivered by the chiefs and their entourage, whilst seven day beer (masese) is brewed and is shared by everyone attending.

The ceremony is commissioned in order to appease the ancestors of the land that they might approve the gathering; whilst celebrating the divergent culture of the district of Chimanimani .

The festival continues through the weekend with a full program of music, dance, theatre, poetry, comedy, film, workshops and various other exhibitions and events. The full program will be announced
soon..

The annual Chimanimani Arts Festival is a chance for everyone to participate culturally and artistically and we welcome all visitors to the festival.

The festival brings positive contributions to the uplifting of both spirit and the economy of this rural community; providing a platform for community based arts and crafts persons to promote their wares and talents, whilst exposing the local audience to a wider range of artistic influences from outside the district.

Chimanimani Arts Festival continues to expand its influence on the Zimbabwean entertainment calendar – we look forward to sustaining this growth and to a wonderful festival this year and take this opportunity to thank those donors’ and supporters, without who’s help the festival would not take place.

Steve ‘Sparx’ Brown
Festival Director

Her style is influenced by great African and jazz singers, and the dignity of her delivery is a credit to her and to her country, wherever she goes. Her music has been accurately described as ‘an afro jazz adventure’ – a fusion of genres: afro, contemporary, Zimbabwe traditional, township, jazz, afro, Latino, and a cultural cross-breed of Zimbabwe’s Manica, Mashona and Matabele rhythms and melodies, with energetic stage work, and sizzling vocals. Dudu performs with her backing group – Color Blu.

Welcome to the Chimanimani Arts Festival 2009 webpage – we are pleased to announce this years festival will run from May 23-24.

After the success of the festival revival in 2008 we have been faced with a real challenge to put forward a program to match that of last year – we are pleased with the result.

We have continued with our emphasis on bringing Zimbabwe’s best known talents to  the Chimanimani stage with shows from Dudu  Manhenga, Dino Mudondo and Steve Makoni – and we have looked to represent a wide range of musicals genres and other arts and craft disciplines within the scope of the festival . We also continue to use the festival as a developmental platform for Zimbabwean artists and, besides the Chimanimani and Manicaland groups , there will also be shows from talent developers Music Crossroads, whilst Student Partnership Worldwide (SPW) will showcase their AIDS  related dance shows and workshops as part of their “Dance 4 Life” student training program.

This year we are also  grateful to the Embassy of Spain for their support to bring our first international  group “Demachena” (Shona for ‘black and white‘) – a Spanish based mbira, guitar and percussion trio comprising  of Rugare Musikavanhu, Luis Giminez and Antonio Prats- they will perform on Saturday 23 May. We hope this exciting development is the cornerstone of making the festival an international event  attracting groups and artists from our region and further afield.

The festival remains a free entry event – for that we remain grateful to those donors and sponsors who help to make the festival happen – without whom the logistics of organizing the festival would not be possible – thank you very much.

The past year has had its challenges for all Zimbabweans, and now 2009 seems to have ushered in a rash of new challenges on a global scale but a glimmer of hope at home -  we are looking to the festival to bring some  respite and entertainment to the Chimanimani community and to all those visitors who take the chance to come to this “festival with soul”

Steve Sparx
Festival Director

Contact Steve Sparx for more festival information – sparx@thulani.net

The Embassy of Spain and Espana Cooperacion  Cultural Exterior.are pleased to support Spain based trio “Demachena” on their upcoming musical tour to Zimbabwe to appear at the  Chimanimani Arts Festival  – scheduled to run from 23-24 May. The group will also have shows  in Harare at the Book Café and The Mannenburg on Wed  27 and Thurs  28 May respectively.

Demachena perform a distinctive blend of Arab, African and Latin music incorporating a host of  styles  to produce an intriguing musical concoction.

The trio comprises of Luis Giminez  – an enthnomusicologist and  master mbira and Spanish guitar player; Antonio Prats  – an astounding percussionist and founder of the Spanish percussive orchestra “Batukem Takada” and Rugare Musikavanhu – accomplished instrumentalist and vocalist.

“Demachena” translates to “Black and White” in Shona  and it is the traditional instrument of the Shona culture, the mbira from which the group  derives a strong component of their compositions. Whilst experiences in the Sahara Desert, Mali and India, spent documenting regional culture and traditional music, also  exert their influences and are evident in the  bands unique tones.

Demachena’s music is a fascinating musical journey – from Flamenco to Central African Katanga,  complimented by the mastery of  ethnic and contemporary instruments.(mbira, ngoni, udu and didgeridoo).

The group have headlined at major Spanish festival s and were nominated for the prestigious  “Fundacion Canal de Isabel II” awards in Madrid in 2008 – which recognizes talents of young musicians across all genres.

More info on the group can be found at www.myspace.com/demachenaworld

Contact Steve Sparx for more festival information – sparx@thulani.net

He has chronicled much of the social disintegration of his community throughout the last few turbulent years but there is never a sense that he is preaching or judgmental. Rather he lets his characters and their situations speak.

Recently Denny’s work was featured on Zimbabwe Fine Art, a local website, which has led to more interest in this emerging artist.

THE MIGRANT TRAVELLERS

CROSSING THE LIMPOPO

THE FESTIVAL BAND

MDC-T spokesperson, Nelson Chamisa has attributed the delays in swearing in Roy Bennett as deputy minister to the fact that Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai was on compassionate leave following the death of his wife, Susan.

Asked to comment on reports that President Robert Mugabe was refusing to swear in Bennett, Chamisa over a week ago said the MDC Treasury General’s appointment as deputy Minister could not be stopped.

“The issue is not about whether or not,” he said. “It is about when. The nomination of Roy Bennett is an MDC-T thing and therefore the President cannot interfere with MDC-T business.”

The former commercial farmer is now a non-constituency Senator.

Water Resources and Infrastructure Development Minister, Samuel Sipepa Nkomo told a private radio station that Mugabe was refusing to swear in Bennett citing that he had a pending case in the courts.

Sipepa Nkomo is reported to have said that attempts to frustrate the former Chimanimani legislator were against the spirit of the Global Political Agreement (GPA).

Bennett was arrested on the same day Mugabe swore in ministers from Zanu PF and the two MDC formations as he tried to return to South Africa where he had lived in exile for two years.

This was after he was informed that deputy ministers would be sworn in at a later date.

He was held at Mutare Prison for a month after he was charged for his alleged involvement in acts of terrorism and for illegal possession of firearms.

The MDC-T blamed his arrest on Zanu PF loyalists who were trying to sabotage the unity government.

Last week Bennett said he did not know what was delaying his swearing in and referred all questions to the Prime Minister’s office.