Security Scares Away Foreign Artists From Zimbabwe Arts Festival

More than 20 countries are taking part at a low-key Harare International Festival of the Arts (HIFA) hit by last-minute withdrawals by artists fearing for their safety in Zimbabwe, APA learned on Wednesday.

In its ninth year, HIFA opened Tuesday and is an annual festival started in 1999 to showcase Zimbabwe’s artistic talent and provide a platform through which to share experiences with artists from other countries.

South Africa’s pop group, Freshly Ground, leads an international cast of more than 100 artists taking part at the festival.

Fronted by the diminutive and dynamic Zolani Mahola, Freshly Ground is made up of seven talented musicians from Mozambique, South Africa and Zimbabwe.

This is not the first time Freshly Ground has been invited to HIFA, having performed here in 2005.

Other countries represented at this year’s HIFA are Sweden, Japan, Indonesia and Germany.

Artists from Brazil, Canada, France and the United Kingdom pulled out, citing security fears, according to HIFA founder Manuel Bagorro.

Zimbabwe has been on a knife-edge since electoral authorities delayed announcing results of presidential polls held 29 March.

There have been reports of political violence in parts of the country as supporters of the main parties attack one another.

The theme of this year’s HIFA is “The Art of Determination”, which was described by Bagoro as an acknowledgment of the challenging circumstances faced by Zimbabweans and the creative resolve of the local artistic community.

The festival ends 4 May.

Source African Press Agency

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