Despite this year\u2019s HIFA theme being titled engage, nothing could be further from the stated objective. The low audience turnout and entertainers didn\u2019t help matters. The billed acts were barely known in Zimbabwe. However, with POVO\u2019s debut at HIFA, the intention was to make our stand as engaging as possible. The main purpose of the stand was to market the POVO brand, generate traffic to the website, and encourage more people to contribute to it. The T-shirts on sale generated a lot of interest and rave reviews from both local and international visitors to the stand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Watching people engaging with the brand was very interesting. Some observations we made at the stand are that Zimbabweans are still very much afraid to speak or even to associate with symbols representing Zimbabwe. Any speak of patriotism is immediately seen as being partisan. Some only observed from afar and dared not to come close. The level of apathy ran deeper than we anticipated as some printers refused to print banners for us for fear of apprehension by the authorities despite a clear description of what the POVO brand stands for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The concept we used for the range of T-shirts and the marketing material used was to drive interest and to get Zimbabweans to be proud to be identified with symbols which represent Zimbabwe. The bronze mural extensively featured on our marketing collateral, shows the story of liberation of Zimbabwe from its colonial masters. The Zimbabwe bird, rainbow flag colours, a graphic composed of the first line of the national anthem and values which I believe symbolize Zimbabweans in the last 10 years. A resilient, brilliant persevering people who exhibited tolerance and confidence in the face of great adversity. Because we deeply understand, our people\u2019s fears and perceptions, we will continue to push the Zimbabwe brand to the best of our abilities to instil a sense of pride in our identity as Zimbabweans and the symbols that represent our country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Photographers at HIFA<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Each year the number of fancy cameras and lenses increases at HIFA but I am still to see the content of the festival grow proportionally. It seems since HIFA have dedicated cameras for certain shows but even they don’t seem to upload enough content from the festival to create a huge internet buzz around the festival. The ratio between men and women with cameras and shooting at HIFA. The number increases when you add the number of photos taken by smartphones. Most of these end up on Facebook and transferred via Whatsapp so won’t be seen in the public domain. As usual Canon was ahead of the pack. Some who had Nikon last year had migrated to Canon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Rudo Nyangulu founder of Choclate Princess, Canon<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Prayersoul’s guitar workshop at HIFA<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Each year there are different workshops which are free to attend. At the Youth Zone there was the Guitar workshop by Prayersoul. Another workshop which was available was the drumming workshop, the bead making workshop and the sand painting workshop all in the Global Quater.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Environment Africa at HIFA<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Environment Africa had a stall at HIFA where they were selling, crafts made from recycled material, raising wareness about the ozone layer and soliciting for donations towards reducing our carbon footprint. One thing that really impressed me were the bins which they placed around the HIFA precinct which were made from recycled materials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
HIFA at First Street Mall<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since its inception have not been able to attend the shows at First street but this year we managed to capture one show with Josh Meck of Chabvondoka.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ivan Mazuze on the Coca Cola Green<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Saxophonist and composer Ivan Mazuze, started in his home country, Mozambique. He is currently based in Norway. We were surprised to see Eve Kawadza on stage singing, the newest diva on the scene, and she had the Coca Cola Green crows on their feet. We know Eve as an actor for the theatre project ArtsLab. We hope to here more from her. We were also treated to some lively mbira punk from Chikwata 263.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pastor Chantel Wright in Zimbabwe at HIFA<\/p>\n\n\n\n
United States conductor and choir leader Pastor Chantel Wright featuring singers from Songs of Solomon (Harlem, New York City) and the HIFA Young People\u2019s Gospel Ensemble performed on the closing night at HIFA.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Netsayi and Black Pressure at HIFA<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Netsayi and her band Black Pressure were back at HIFA once again on the Global Stage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Rural to Ramp fashion show at HIFA<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This year HIFA introduced a new concept of fashion shows through out the festival. Different fashion and jewellery designers had their collections exhibited to festival goers throughout the festival. In 2011 something similar was held out in the open on the Global Quarter Stage as a free event. This year it was inside a tent and became a paid event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sulumani Chimbetu at HIFA<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Batai munhu!’ Had heard this statement and didnt know it was a song until we saw the crowd respond in unison. First time to see Sulumani Chimbetu and it was impressive and he certainly lived up to the hype. He was joined on stage by Allan Chimbetu. He is part of the Big Five of Zimbabwe music which feature Alick Macheso, Oliver Mutukdzi, Winky D<\/a>, and Charles Charamba.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Chikwata.263 brings mbira punk to HIFA<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mbira Punk band Chikwata.263 brought their own brand of music to HIFA and rocked the Coca Cola Green, with a memorable performance. They also featured Chiwoniso Maraire and Potato.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Roki and Mampi<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Big Brother Africa duo of Roki and Mampi had the sunday afternoon slot on the Telecel Main Stage. The performance did not look polished and it seems they didnt rehearse but all the same their fans were just happy to see them on stage. There was a huge Zambian contigent who sang along to mampis lyrics. And mampis dances left little to the imagination and really should have had an age restriction! Pauline of Mafriq was also backing the vocals for Roki. She also happens to be one of his wives. Besides Roki’s bad boy image he is very popular with his fans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Edith We Utonga and the legendary Busi Ncube<\/p>\n\n\n\n Edith We Utonga and Busi Ncube of Ilanga fame teamed up to give fans an excellent show which blew the roof off the Global Stage roof. They sang some all toime Ilanga classics like True Love which had everyone on their feet and dancing. Edith has matured since her debut at HIFA<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n The Noisettes at HIFA<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Noisettes were the highlight of our HIFA 2013 experience and they lived to their billing with many insisting they should have closed the festival. fronted by Zimbabwean Shingai Shoniwa, The UK based Noisettes left gave a performance from the top shelf. She also called other zimbabwe divas Chiwoniso Maraire, Hope Masike and Tariro NeGitare onto the stage to do a cover of Thomas Mapfumos song. Shingai was on a mission to make her show unforgettable as she climbed high onto supporting structures, cart wheeled on stage and eventually got onto the shoulders of a man and walked through the crowd. She seemed to feel very much at home and the crowd really appreciated it her efforts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Simba at the Youth Zone<\/p>\n\n\n\n This year the Youth Zone was a structured slightly different. Through out the years it has been a free space for the kids but this year they commercialised it. There was a day pass that was required and you could watch shows there through out the day. We didnt attend many shows this year. There was the Guitar workshop by Prayersoul and the Chisipite Senior Girls Choir. The Simba mascot also made an appearance this year!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Beading at the Global stage<\/p>\n\n\n\n