Masike tops bill at fest
AMMARA BROWN and Hope Masike headline this year’s edition of Parinodira Festival, which seeks to promote and preserve arts, cultural heritage and wildlife among youths.
The festival — which has been supported by the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education for the past nine years — is slated for October 19 at the National Herbarium and Botanic Garden.
Running under the theme “Art is Power”, the event will be hosted by the National Education and Cultural Trust of Zimbabwe (NECTZIM).
Gonororo Sounds, St Joseph’s Traditional Dance, Courtney Selous Marimba, DJ Simba Tunes, stand-up comedian Scala and others will provide entertainment at the fête.
NECTZIM executive director, Mathew Ndoro, said preparations were at an advanced stage.
“We want to raise arts, cultural heritage and wildlife awareness while providing thought-provoking edutainment. “It is also a platform to showcase cultural diversity through visual and performing arts as well as providing a platform for wealth creation and youth empowerment,” said Ndoro.
“This initiative also helps to create a safe space for community engagement and social collaboration among learners and facilitators.
“We are also going to have different activities on the day, including art, craft design and wildlife exhibitions, music, poetry, storytelling, comedy and dance performances, mainly by children.
“There are other activities like traditional games, jumping castles and water slides.”
Ndoro said the event has benefited children from the grassroots.
“The idea has produced results where preservation of arts, culture and heritage activities in Zimbabwe has been maintained.
“We have also demystified this mentality that a profession in the arts industry is a shameful one, and also increased appreciation of all forms of art and our unique cultural diversity.
“We have also done construction of culture villages, modern and cultural exhibitions, and collection of ethnographics, among other activities. “Art is a limitless, diverse range of human activities in creating visual, acoustic and performing artefacts expressing one’s unique technical aptitude and creativity intended to be appreciated for their beauty,” he said.
NECTZIM is a community-based organisation working with the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education to promote and preserve arts, cultural heritage and wildlife.