Can’t wait for HIFA 2008?

HARARE
The Harare International Festival of the Arts (HIFA) has grown into one of the biggest and most diverse international arts events in Africa.  
This year’s Festival runs from April 29 to May 4 and promises to be the most prestigious since the Festival’s inauguration in 1999. The Harare Gardens in the centre of Harare and surrounding venues will be transformed into a cultural carnival featuring a huge programme of music of all types, theatre, dance and visual arts.
The theme this year is The Art of Determination, an acknowledgement of the challenging circumstances faced by Zimbabweans and the creative resolve of the local artistic community. It also recognises the significance of 2008 as an election year when all Zimbabweans are being called upon to determine their future.   
Speaking in Harare, Founder and Artistic Director Manuel Bagorro said: “HIFA 2008 is a celebration of the capacity of people to make amazing creative things happen. Both the Zimbabwean artistic community and the large number of international artists from more than 20 countries will come together in a spirit of inspiration and solidarity.  
“HIFA demonstrates the power of the arts to unify, heal and generate positivity for a community determined to nurture the creative aspect of their national identity.”
Highlights revealed
One of the highlights of the theatre programme will be the large-scale South African Production Truth in Translation presented by HIVOS and the European Union. The show is a collaboration between an extraordinary company of South African actors and musicians, an American director and legendary South African musician/composer and contributing writers.   
The stage production premiered in Kigali and Butare, Rwanda and enjoyed critically acclaimed runs at the Market Theatre, Johannesburg and the Baxter Theatre Cape Town.   
Truth in Translation tells the story of a group of interpreters at the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Hugh Masakela, South Africa’s esteemed and internationally acclaimed musician and composer, contributes a score that amplifies the sound of a nation that has found a way to use magic as its universal language of survival and celebration.  
Music at HIFA
The music programme includes a performance by celebrated singer, dancer and percussionist Dobet Gnahoré from the Ivory Coast, presented by Alliance Francaise and CulturesFrance.  
Her band includes French and Tunisian members, and Dobet sings in a range of African languages, including Bété, Fon, Baoule, Lingala, Malinke, Mina and Bambara – making this a truly pan-African musical experience. On stage, her voice, her charisma and her presence, honed by years of theatrical and choreographic work, has immense audience appeal.

Most happening thing…until HIFA that is
HARARE
Any HIFA-lovers (or arts lovers for that matter) had better wake up and fast! HIFA will be closing applications for its hifAmigos scheme on Tuesday, March 4 at 4.30pm
The team has already been inundated with hifAmigos applications and, with the deadline fast-approaching, are expecting a sudden rush of people loathe to miss out.
All the major international festivals offer a ‘Friends of Festival’scheme and HIFA’s hifAmigos version offers many benefits to members who have a choice of subscription categories.
Amigos get priority booking to HIFA shows, a free programme, a name-check in the programme (which is seen all over the world) and a 20 per cent discount on all shows on presentation of the hifAmigo card at the HIFA Box Offices (limited to two tickets per card per show). Amigos also get the Festival newsletter, the HIFA Eye, posted out and e-mail updates.
And there’s more. hifAmigo Cards give holders free access to the HIFA site, comprising the Coca-Cola Green, Global Quarter and Youth Zone; free access to the exclusive Green Room members’ lounge, where they can meet the stars, and to the National Gallery of Zimbabwe.
More details are available by emailing amigos@hifa.co.zw or at www.hifa.co.zw. Forms can also be picked up at Wendy House, 22 Natal Road, Avondale, Harare.

Call for artists
Postcard-sized art in mystery auction
Artists, musicians, dancers and friends – at home and abroad – are being invited to take part in the HIFA 2008 postcard exhibition and auction. 
Anyone can create an original, postcard-sized work of art. It can painted, photographed, printed or any other medium, but must stick within the standard postcard format (around 4 x 6 inches or 100mm x 148mm).
The works will be numbered and exhibited as part of a huge collage of postcards during the Harare International Festival of the Arts (HIFA) 2008. Bidders will have a list of the participating artists, but will not know who created the piece until after the auction when they will be able to see the signature and a message from the artist on the back. 
Money raised will go to support the work of Gallery Delta, which supports and nurtures up and coming visual artists; the Zimbabwe College of Music; Theory X for their theatre training initiative, and Tumbuka Dance Company and the Dance Foundation Course for their dance training initiative
Entry forms can be downloaded from www.hifa.co.zw or picked up at the HIFA offices, 148 Glichrist Drive, Marlborough, Harare or Wendy House, 22 Natal Road, Avondale.