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HIFA 2004 kicks off in Harare
Kubatana.net
April 28, 2004

Photograph by Kubatana.net

The Harare International Festival of the Arts (HIFA) kicked off in Harare on Tuesday, April 27 with the HIFA Dandaro Bira Ceremony led by Zimbabwe's top selling mbira group Mbira Dzenharira. The traditional ceremony was meant to get the blessings of the ancestors as the case with most traditional shona/ndebele festivities.

The HIFA global stage was filled to the brim with people of all nations coming together to witness this unique ceremony. The ceremony was free, as there is no charge for the traditional/cultural festivities. To add with the evocation of the mbira was free opaque beer offered to the people. The beer was made possible kind courtesy of Chibuku Brewaries.

After the traditional ceremony Mbira Dzenharira performed their songs amid great cheers from the public, who seemed to have been possessed by the crispy, clean sound of the mbira.

Later on in the evening, there was the official Opening Show entitled Art Beat on the Caltex main Stage. Art Beat directed by Zane E Lucas was a show that captured the pulsating heart beat of the City of Harare.

Art Beat was unique in that it brought together local artists Luck Street Blues, Tumbuka dance troupe, Zim-Zim acrobats and the soulful acappella ensemble, African voice alongside Danish percussion group Percurama, Naked Ape Circus from Sweden alongside the slamming screeching of vynals by British DJ Pogo setting the scene that Harare's heart will rock your socks.

The show ended with an impressive display of fireworks amid great cheers and joy from the packed grounds.

The theme for HIFA 2004 is HIFA - Heart beat of the City.

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