THE SOUTH AFRICAN

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(Detail) Zander Blom, Untitled, Bathroom, 2.01 a.m., Wednesday, 23 May 2007, 805 x 559 mm, Ultrachrome ink on 100% Cotton Rag. (Courtesy of Whatiftheworld / Gallery)

Page 2South African Art Times. May 2008

The South African

Art Times

May 2008www.arttimes.co.za

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By Sylvie Groschatau-Philips April 7th, 2008“I am writing at this time of uncer-tainty in our beautiful country andcity, but the drive to determine our future and identity is, if anything,strengthened by our circum-stances”. Manuel Bagorro, HIFAFounder & Artistic director The Harare International Festivalof the Arts opened up in Zimbabweon the 29th of April 2008 with“the presidential poll result on theway” (Sunday Mail, Harare). TheGardens and the National gallerywere invested to the full and variedto create an arborescence of determination, to show, to com-municate, interact and inform.The 9th edition of HIFA encom-

passed ve main disciplines:music, theatre, ne arts, dance

and spoken word. HIFA representsan enormous work in commonfrom the artists, organizers, staff,funders to the audience, eager and hungry to hear, partake andshare the dance for the sevendays of this ceremony of deter-mination that showed a profound

signicance and demonstrated

that the Zimbabwean artists arethinking beyond the exotic and theusual in favour of a true and validcontemporary response and socialcomment.The festival showcased the bestof Zimbabwean performances

and ne arts while staging and

exhibiting African and internationalperformances.Opening in such a context was achallenge and a statement bothby local artists such as ChiwonisoMaraire and Oliver Mtukudzi,the African Voice, a Zimbabwe’spremière all female, a capella quin-tet, African icons such as DobetGnahore, one of a new generationof African artists who are rewritingthe rules about embracing musicaltradition with a multi-faceted ap-proach to music, song, dance, per-

cussion and the theatre, “deantly

diverse, musically and linguisti-cally”, Herbert Kinobe who, in hisearly twenties, is an acclaimedUgandan master of the Kora, les Amazones de Guinée, Canaman,3MA, Nathalie Natiembe, theBrazilian singer André Abujamra,Freshly Ground, Brett Bailey andVoyage Ensemble from South Africa all carried voices, createda world of determination at a highlevel of thinking.“We are near the end, what arewe looking for? We are special-ists in self-destruction, emptiness,indifference and yet everything isbased on hope” (Augusto Cuvillas,Mozambique).“Truth in translation” engagedon the Truth and Reconciliationprocess and proposed work-shops around the play wherethe audience was encouraged toexpress opinions, Sangano “theMeeting” by theTumbuka Dancecompany, Loupe as a part of theHIFA-DIRECT project, “The twoleaders I know” by Daves Guzha,Curry Tales by Rani Moorthy,“Settlement” by the Belgian DanceCompany SOIT where the per-formances were the culminationof a process of construction andsharing, La Voix, HIVOS SpokenWord programme, Kalanga, where

the spirit of the Kalanga ourishes

with resounding energy, everyshow was a solid declaration of life, determination and self worth.The HIFA-LUTIN was published indifferent colour daily and distrib-uted to the audience with criticsand reviews on the exhibitions,performances and workshops withthe full programme of the day. Staff and security participated activelyto the performance. The festivaloffers employment and accredita-tion, training, references and mostimportantly, a sense of inclusionand involvement in the event.Heard from the audience and

around: “It is the determination of

audiences that come to HIFA insuch numbers who show why theworld holds Zimbabwe and her people in such high regard and for whom all the trials and tormentsare worth the effort”.“the Festival offers some form of consolation for the discouraged,inspiration for the frustrated andhealing for a community thatcomes together in literal and meta-phorical harmony, determined tofoster a sense of unity, belongingand optimism against all odds”Power in the Voice encouragedyoung creative thinkers andperformers to develop their skillsin spoken word, performance, rap,storytelling, as well as street art,creative writing, competitions, col-laborations, workshops, exhibitionsand talks.The YOUTH scene on the Greenwhere hip hop dancing com-petitions and workshops wereproposed daily was always vibrantand determined to action.“It is a celebration of young and

older people nding their voices

and expressing themselves” *The National Gallery presentedworks by Shona master stonesculptors Graham Rugow andLiberty Tshuma. The vast high ceil-

ing groundoor space displayed

works by emerging local artistssuch as Viriginia Chihota and Admire Kamudzengerere. Most of these artists worked with recuper-ated material from around thegallery such as stones and gravelsfor Semina Mpofud sculpture“Determination” to clay and bricksin Gareth Nyandoro’s “MisoropamWechete” an installation built onsite. The large overlooking mezzanine presented works by renownBrazilian photograph Salvador Negroamor, Art on Purpose andthe Voyage Ensemble “Mappingcultural echoes” a body map andsuitcase ensemble together withDaniel Glaser and MagdalenaKunz as guest artists. From Blankto Zimbabwe, their “Talking Heads”have created echoes, responseand awe. The new media instal-lation remained a hot spot for theduration of the show.Workshops and Art Therapy,guided visits, Fashion shows,Opera, Mbira Koto Vibrations toIkebana enlivened and made useof the Artworks on display aroundthe gallery. The place was never

still: the eagerness of the public

to see and share, their criticalityand overwhelming curiosity reallymade a celebration of the journey-ing together of both visual art

and people that is not dened by

borders and differences but by abroader understanding of a shared African visual imagery.“The visual art show was by far the most consequent and eclecticshow of the visual arts to date”Manuel Bagorro, HIFA Founder & Artistic director.“The audience was refreshing.Their response and contributionsmade the exhibition alive withrelevance”. Admire Kamudzengerere“Cornered” with the Mbira KotoVibrations performing.The Global Quarter Craft andDesign Market showcased its iden-tities in a Circular display of tentsaround the Gardens together withthe outdoor stages, the Green, anddelies spread throughout the eventto tempt tastes, ears and buds.The festival opened with a cer-emony led by Mbira Dzenharira,an evening of chidzimba, mhem-berwa and makwiringwindo andDreamland by Brett Bailey wherea king from a far far away land isdetermined to play his own musiconly. Dreamland was mounted inZimbabwe making use of art anddrama therapists who engagedwith individuals locally on the stateof dream and nightmares.The artists and organizers sharea strong belief in the power of cul-ture to promote social transforma-tion and ensured that the Festivalis reaching out to the broadestpossible audience.Unicef, Pro Helvetia, Africalia,the Swiss, Norwegian, Italian,Portuguese, French, Nether-lands, German, Japanese andIndonesian embassies and theBritish council, actively engaged inmaking the festival a success, withmany local and international banksand corporates feeling empoweredby the challenging personality of HIFA.“As Zimbabweans, we speak of

challenges and difculties… suchinsignicant words to describe the

determined effort it has taken tobring this tremendous celebrationof Zimbabwean resilience to frui-tion” Maria Wilson HIFA executivedirector.On the 6th of May, the day after the festival closed, new banknotes were issued of Z$ 250 000000 and Z$ 100 000 000.

The Harare International Festival of the Arts (HIFA) 2008 -

The Art of Determination

South African Art Times. May 2008 Page 3

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‘Trapped in History’

During the 9 days of our stay $20were worth (in bank notes of 10 to50 million) from up toZ$ 85 000 000, Z$ 97 0000000 tillZ$ 100 000 000.A beer can be 350 million down to150 million locally.The Sunday Mail costs aZ$ 100 million.Everyone is multi billionaire every-day. You count your money fast($ or £ exchange at different ratesby the day and the accommoda-tor)Determined participation, dedica-tion, active healing, research, re-membrance workshops, networksand exchange, collectively spreadthe quality innovative spirit thatensures the continuing successand growth of the contemporaryart scene in Zimbabwe in spite of the political economic and socialhardship that people face.It is an honour to partake.

Last comments on Sunday 5th:9:00 am at the press conference

HIFATIGUE “with many seedsplanted” and during the closingperformance by Oliver Mtukuzi,Louis Mhlanga, Steve Dyer andJudith Sephuma HIFAMILY !“We feel that the Zimbabwean artscene is a space to watch. In thelead up to the 10th anniversary of HIFA, this continent and beyondwill be guaranteed a relevantand vital art event that strives topromote a strong African capitalfor many years to come”.Heeten Bhagat, Curator of theNational Gallery of ZimbabweMazvita HIFA !Performance at the National Gallery, Harare A crowd at HIFAWork from the Global QuarterBody Map Workshop