ZIMBABAWE: HARARE INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS TAKES PLACE DURING A TIME OF POLITICAL TURMOIL CONCERNING LAND DISPUTES

Record ID: 584696

  • Title: ZIMBABAWE: HARARE INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS TAKES PLACE DURING A TIME OF POLITICAL TURMOIL CONCERNING LAND DISPUTES
  • Date: 1st May 2000
  • Summary: VARIOUS LOCATIONS, ZIMBABWE (RECENT) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 1. VARIOUS NIGHT SHOTS OF PEOPLE AT THE FESTIVAL (5 SHOTS) 0.18 2. VARIOUS, [PEOPLE AT FIREWORK DISPLAY (2 SHOTS) 0.25 3. SMV MAN IN AUDIENCE READING PROGRAMME FOR "AFRICAN SANCTUS" EVENT 0.26 (REUTERS - PERFORMANCE CLEARANCE FOR RESALE) 4. VARIOUS, AFRICAN DANCERS PERFORMING (2 SHOTS) 0.37 5. SMV AUDIENCE WATCHING 0.38 6. VARIOUS, DANCERS PERFORMING (3 SHOTS) 0.50 (REUTERS -ACCESS ALL) 7. SCU (SOUNDBITE) (English) DAVID FANSHAWE, Composer "I have dedicated tonight's performance to peace. Not just in Africa but to world peace. I think we need to consider to respect our planet earth. Wherever we are, whatever colour, whatever background. And we've gotta do some good in this life and not kill each other and not frighten each other and not threaten each other." 1.19 (REUTERS FILE) 8. FILE FOOTAGE OF STREET DEMONSTRATIONS WITH PEOPLE HOLDING PLACARDS READING "PEACE IN OUR TIME) 1.25 9. SLV DEMONSTRATORS IN CITY STREET THROWING STONES AND MISSILES AT POLICE 1.31 10. VARIOUS, WAR VETERANS MEETING AROUND CAMPSITE , WEARING VOTE MUGABE TEE SHIRTS AND HOLDING ZANU PF IDENTITY /PARTY CARDS (4 SHOTS) 1.42 (REUTERS -ACCESS ALL) 11. WIDE OF AUDIENCE APPLAUDING AFRICAN SANCTUS PERFORMANCE AT FESTIVAL 1.47 12. SCU (SOUNDBITE) (English) SOUKAINA MAFUNDIKWA, Choreographer "People are a bit tired and they need this kind of event in order to you know think about the beauty of life. The beauty of art. Art is supposed to bring people together." 1.58 13. SCU (SOUNDBITE) (English) DAVE GUZHA, Actor "It's a unifying force more than anything else. While we do have all these other background events taking place in the country what's important is that we can afford to relax even for a few hours." 2.12 14. SCU (SOUNDBITE) (English) TRUDY STEVENSON, Political Activist "It means a return to normal actually for a brief interlude. There's been so many awful things happening. We need to return to normal." 2.26 (REUTERS - PERFORMANCE CLEARANCE FOR RESALE) 15. VARIOUS, SWISS TRIO GOPF PERFORMING (3 SHOTS) 2.52 (REUTERS -ACCESS ALL) 16. SCU (SOUNDBITE) (English) GREGO DE PERROT, GOPF "For us as artists it is important to also go to places where everything is not fine. We think it is important also that artists go to Sarajevo as quick as possible. I think culture is very important and that it still continues even if its not a good situation." 3.11 (REUTERS - PERFORMANCE CLEARANCE FOR RESALE) 17. VARIOUS, GOPF PERFORMING (4 SHOTS) 3.32 (REUTERS -ACCESS ALL) 18. SMV, FESTIVAL DIRECTOR MANUEL BAGORO MAKING ANNOUNCEMENT ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO ENJOY THE FESTIVAL (ENGLISH) 3.42 (REUTERS- PERFORMANCE CLEARANCE FOR RESALE) 19. VARIOUS, DANCE GROUP PERFORMING (2 SHOTS) 3.48 (REUTERS- ACCESS ALL) 20. SCU (SOUNDBITE) (English) MANUEL BAGORO, Festival Director "The arts have the power to unify. They bring people together - particularly a festival because you have all sorts of different types of performances appealing to all sorts of different types of people and happening in one intense period. 3.59 21. VARIOUS, PEOPLE WATCHING FESTIVAL (3 SHOTS) 4.10 22. VARIOUS, FOLK DANCE GROUP PERFORMING 4.22 23. VARIOUS, CROWD WATCHING FOLK DANCE TROUPE (4 SHOTS) 4.41 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 16th May 2000 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: VARIOUS LOCATIONS, ZIMBABWE
  • Country: Zimbabwe
  • Reuters ID: LVACXBVWGV57ZFJW8ZBITSC9XP12
  • Story Text: It would be naive to think that in times of political
    turmoil, an art festival could solve a country's problems,
    but for those Zimbabweans who showed up to Harare's art
    festival, it was a welcome respite.



    In Zimbabwe these days people will go to great
    lengths to forget the troubles wracking their country.

    Huddled around a bonfire - these art lovers have turned
    out in force on a chilly night for the opening of this
    year's Harare International Festival of Arts.

    After a spectacular fireworks display the audience
    settled back to enjoy the headline performance of the
    festival - African Sanctus - a dazzling combination of
    music, dance, opera and drama.

    Composer David Fanshawe traces his inspiration for the
    piece to a journey across Africa in the 1970's when he
    recorded a wide sampling of the continents rich and varied
    music.

    He says "I have dedicated tonight's performance to
    peace. Not just in Africa but to world peace. I think we
    need to consider to respect our planet earth. Wherever we
    are, whatever colour, whatever background. And we've gotta
    do some good in this life and not kill each other and not
    frighten each other and not threaten each other."
    Zimbabweans have been frightened and threatened - and
    some have even been killed - in weeks of political turmoil
    sparked by the invasion - by so-called war veterans - of
    white-owned farms.

    It would be naive to think that an art festival could
    solve the problems of a country - but for those who showed
    up - it was a welcome respite.

    Choreographer Soukaina Mafundikwa says "People are a
    bit tired and they need this kind of event in order to you
    know think about the beauty of life. The beauty of art. Art
    is supposed to bring people together."
    Actor Dave Guzha says "It's a unifying force more than
    anything else. While we do have all these other background
    events taking place in the country what's important is that
    we can afford to relax even for a few hours."
    Political activist Trudy Stevenson says "It means a
    return to normal actually for a brief interlude. There's
    been so many awful things happening. We need to return to
    normal."
    Normal might not be the word that springs immediately to
    mind on seeing one of the festival's most popular acts in
    full swing.

    Swiss trio Gopf - on their first tour of Africa - offered
    fun, mischief and a hatful of surprises.

    Grego de Perrot says "For us as artists it is important
    to also go to places where everything is not fine. We think
    it is important also that artists go to Sarajevo as quick as
    possible. I think culture is very important and that it
    still continues even if it's not a good situation."
    Residents of Harare might be alarmed by this comparison
    to Sarajevo - the Bosnian capital that was besieged for
    years during which thousands of people died.

    While the situation here is very troubling - it's
    certainly not Sarajevo.

    Michael Bagoro - renowned concert pianist and organizer
    of this festival now in its second year - says as long as
    there is art - conflict can be kept at arms' length.

    He says "The arts have the power to unify. They bring
    people together - particularly a festival because you have
    all sorts of different types of performances appealing to
    all sorts of different types of people and happening in one
    intense period."
    By day - the festival was a family affair.

    With schools closed - organizers ensured there was
    plenty on offer for the younger culture vulture.

    The Harare International Festival of Arts is still in
    its infancy - but it has the potential to establish itself
    as one of the continent's premier cultural events.

    Political events in the country - between now and next
    year's edition - might threaten the festival's future - but
    organizers say it will be bigger and better and that the
    show will go on.


    ENDS
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