FESTIVAL IN ZIMBABWE
In the Zimbabwean capital, the annual Harare International Festival of the Arts
ended on Sunday after a somewhat controversial week-long run. The festival ended with
a fireworks display after the London Community Gospel choir gave the final performance,
delivering a message of hope.
There are some Zimbabweans who feel, because of the economic and political
crisis, the festival should not have been held this year. Some say holding the festival
sends a message that things are normal in Zimbabwe. They even launched a mail
campaign to make their point.
But the festival's founder and director, London-based Zimbabwean concert pianist
Manuel Bagorro, argues that Zimbabwe needs the festival now more than at any other
time. "I believe that this is absolutely the most important time to do something of this
nature," said Mr Bagorro. "I think that any initiative that nurtures any section of our
community is incredibly important at this time when people are so desperate. My decision
to keep the festival right in the centre of the city, despite concerns about security, and
concerns about petty crime and so on, is some effort on behalf of the festival to
acknowledge the reality of the situation.
"Yes, it is true you walk out of the gates of the festival and are confronted with the
destitution of many, many Zimbabweans," he continued. "However, it seems to me that to
cancel a festival like this achieves nothing."
Despite the controversy, thousands of people who could afford the modestly priced
tickets and had the fuel to go to the city centre attended the festival.
Zimbabwe's difficult problems include an 80% unemployment rate, shortages of
basic commodities, and a political crisis that is splitting the nation. But for the last week,
the Harare International Festival of the Arts provided, at least, some distraction.
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