Byo fest unearthes jams

THE just-ended Bulawayo Arts Festival has unearthed new and raw talent from different arts disciplines proving Bulawayo to be a cultural hub. The second edition of the festival, which was officially opened by President Emmerson Mnangagwa, started on Tuesday under the theme WOW (we own winter) and ended at the weekend.

Mnangagwa described the festival as the perfect opportunity to celebrate the country’s cultural diversity, history and heritage.

“The festival affords us yet another opportunity to celebrate and promote our rich heritage, culture and arts with specific focus on the urban cultural heritage. Bulawayo remains the country’s epicentre of creative arts,” he said.

“Under the second republic, my government made a bold and deliberate decision to correctly portray and promote our rich history and cultural heritage. To this end, there is no going back.”

Earlier on, Mnangagwa had unveiled the Heritage Corridor, toured the St Mary’s Basilica, Joshua Nkomo Museum, Natural History Museum, Inxwala grounds, the Hanging Tree and late Vice-President Joshua Nkomo’s statue.

Meanwhile, the spoken word show held on Thursday night at the Bulawayo Theatre introduced to the audience a rather new genre of poet Spanchi Omunyama who is also an actress, singer and television presenter.

The 18-year-old Omunyama delivered poetry which was well thought, celebrating the Ndebele culture, coinciding with the Bulawayo Day.

The day is commemorated annually on June 1, the day on which the city was bestowed with the city status.

On the other hand, the musical show held on Wednesday night also unveiled raw talent in the form of rappers Kid Thrill, Fab G, Cliff Jeans and Mzistozz Mnanafuthi.

All the artistes put up stellar performances which left many asking where these jewels have been hiding.

Speaking to NewsDay Life & Style the festival director Saimon Mambazo Phiri, said the festival was also targeting to unearthing new talent.

“The festival had to have a mixture of the old and new names.

“There is so much talent in and around Bulawayo that has not been seen or heard and it brings us much joy to have such being unearthed,” he said.

“We wish to see more of the potential being seen.”

The curtain on the festival came down on Saturday with stellar performance from hip-hop sensation Asaph at the City Hall and a Kota cookout fiesta at the Art Gallery koBulawayo.