All is set for Tsholotsho Arts Festival
Providence Moyo
TSHOLOTSHO – Preparations for the much anticipated Tsholotsho Arts Festival launch which is slated for 10 December 2021 are at an advanced stage.
Local artists will take the lion’s share of proceedings at the event that will take place at Tsholotsho’s Roma hall under the theme ‘Tsholotsho the face of arts.’
Speaking to this publication, Director of the festival, Topaz Ndlovu said the thinking behind having local upcoming artists dominate the festival is to support young people in Tsholotsho and encourage them to embrace and appreciate their importance as custodians of arts in Tsholotsho.
“It is important to give upcoming artists a platform to perform and be able to showcase their talents to the public. We believe that this is an opportune moment to give them relevance and help build them so that they grow in arts. Art has over the years proven to be one of the most effective tools of communication in different facets of life.
“Local upcoming artists deserve a chance to be given a basis upon which they will grow into big and highly celebrated artists, hence as a festival committee we have high hopes that the local artists’ performances will encourage others who wish to join the arts industry to take a step towards the realization of their dreams,” he said.
An upcoming artist, Thabani Khumalo who is the TAF Marketing and Publicity Manager said they wish to engage more with young people as a way of getting them busy doing something progressive rather than indulging in drugs.
“Our vision as TAF is to see Tsholotsho progressing in every way and we aim to do that througharts as we aspire to work with young people to get their voices heard through artistic movements. This initiative is designed to give them a voice and so we will work with any artist that wishes to works with TAF,” he said.
The festival launch will see Tsholotsho’s veteran award winning actor Ellen Mlangeni performing on stage with her group, Shaba Arts.
Mlangeni featured prominently in local dramas that were broadcast by the state broadcaster, Zimbabwe Broadcasting Cooperation (ZBC), such as ‘Thuba Lami’, ‘Isithembo,’
‘Isililo,’ ‘Stitsha’ and ‘Omunye Umngcwabo.’ She also hit the screens in ‘Another Wedding’ which was aired on Zambezi Magic channel.
Umenz’okuhle, Umntaka Gogo , Sonkodlokazi, izinkanyamba, Cubbick , Eme A , Shaba Arts Project, MtakaMasola , Ngqubeko brothers, Skydawn, Dj Ngamla, GreatJoy Hlats , Alloe , Igolide lami, Nkunz’enkulu , Dark X , Tupeal , Umathunywa Jah Light and many more artists will perform on the day.
