About Ibumba

Once again we welcome the world to Makokoba, the oldest township with the newest ideas and indeed to the Ibumba International Festival 2010. The festival will be 8-days of first-class music, dance, film, literature, arts, poetry, and theatre performances in this historic township. Our theme for this year is “Live out Loud” an expression of the way we expect our work, audiences, partners and the community to blossom.

According to the media and those who attended, “the festival provided a yardstick for most of the local festivals to learn from.” With the experience and lessons learnt in the year 2008 and 2009, the 2010 festival is set to be bigger, better, & bolder. Ibumba Festival is presented and hosted by Siyaya Arts from funds raised through performances. The festival is supported by Sabela Music Projects (Ltd) and the recently formed Friends of the Festival.

As we turn a new leaf and take a bigger turn in the growth of Ibumba Festival, we shall not undermine the way Makokoba has been the festival’s permanent backdrop. This wonderful place (an untapped heritage site) provides some of the most inspiring venues. Stanley Hall & Square is where the main programme of the festival will continue to be held. New to Ibumba 2010 is the promised spreading of wings to other venues around Bulawayo which has seen the hosting of some shows at the Bulawayo Theatre and Indaba Cafe.

Thrills and surprises can be expected in this year’s festival. we have doubled our investments and upped our energies to ensure that Ibumba International Festival is a reality. If you see positive things please tell your friends and if you see any negatives, please tell us. We have had artists from the whole world gracing our Festival. We have seen it fit now for local artists to be afforded a platform that enhances their skill and also exposes their talent to the world. It is our aim and desire that an International Festival be a platform for our local acts to be played out equal as the International acts. Even then the visitors will take home in their hearts; a positive Zimbabwean African culture.

Whatever the fact, we thank you all indeed for being around. I take this time to salute our festival team (mainly Siyaya artists) who work so hard to make this event what it is, not forgetting our many partners, sponsors, friends, audiences, and families who have continually supported Siyaya and the festival over the years. Thank you!

History & Background

Ibumba Festival has been run in Bulawayo by Siyaya Arts since 1996. The 2010 edition is the 13th and will be held in Makokoba, the old township with new ideas. It will be 8 glorious days of first class theatre, music, dance, film, workshops, literary arts performances, and fun in this historic township. The Festival continues to explore the world of arts in this celebration of music, dance, & theatre, and has something for everyone at every level.

Previous Festivals

The first ever Ibumba Festival was in Bulawayo in 1996, with the major support of World Vision Zimbabwe. The Festival saw the participation of Black Umfolosi, Savannah Arts, Sunduza, the hosts NASA Theatre (now known as Siyaya), and representatives from more than twenty local arts organisations and groups. The six-day programme saw strong links of local cultural exchange being established.
Lack of funding forced some groups from Binga, Harare, and South Africa to cancel their trips to Bulawayo to attend the second festival in 1997. Besides the hosts, the festival saw the participation of Savannah Arts, Workshop 96 Children Performing Arts, Stripes n’ Dots, and other groups from around the country. We also had the visiting Rangi Moja Theatre and Splindliblind Women’s Theatre from Germany. The participation of the two artists from the theatre groups in Germany saw collaborations with artists from NASA Theatre and the creation of a duet show called “Koenig kinder — Abantwana Benkosi” which was premiered at the same festival and later on performed and exhibited at venues in Germany in 1998.

The 3rd festival was successfully held in 1998 followed by what has been the biggest arts gathering organised by Siyaya Arts, the 1999 edition, whose programme also incorporated Siyaya’s 10th Anniversary celebrations. The extended festival saw Siyaya preview 5 of their shows, with participation of performers from Zambia, Ghana, and all over Zimbabwe, among others Sunduza, Amakhosi, Umkhathi Theatre, KADAP, SWAZZ Arts Theatre, and Rimuka Theatre. The Festival was also held in 2000, 2001, and 2002, and the 7th edition was held in December 2003 to great acclaim. The Festival saw the participation of Legal Lions, Umdumo Wesizwe, Imbizo, White Umfolosi, Siyaya, Hloseni, Isithende, Umkhathi, Amakhosi, Bambelela, Jeys and Kozekulunge, Boza X2, Go Boyz, and Khuxman. Due to financial constraints the 8th edition of the festival in 2004 was shelved and the festival had to mark its return in the year that followed. The recent Ibumba 2007 was held at Stanley Square and it showcased the talents of Vibe Stars, Impumelelo shining stars and it saw the return of groups like Siyaya, Umkhathi, and Umdumo Wesizwe. Upcoming Artists like the Street Niggaz, Nyamazana, and Magesh Tornadoes were afforded the platform to perform.

2008 — Ibumba goes international

“A world class festival” — Sunday News

Indeed it happened. Stanley Hall, Makokoba was lit in fire as it was turned into a non-stop meeting, recreation, and focal point of the whole of Bulawayo and the country at large. The seven days saw the festival host about 45 groups of artists, more than 1500 individual artists and approximately 5000 punters converging at Stanley Hall Makokoba.
As per plans the festival was running three stages, namely the indoor stage, Acoustic Stage, and the Main Stage. Groups and individuals that graced the festival included Douglas Chirenda, Phephindaba Choir, Impumelelo Shining Stars, Umdumo Wesizwe, Nyezi Band, Black Umfolosi, Ingwe Stars, Ingwe Le Ndlovukazi, Khula Arts Ensemble, Kwabatsha Dance Company, Simunye Simunye, The Managers, Missing Piece Performing Arts, SWATCYP from Swaziland, Iyasa, Future Sibanda, Jeepers Makers, Babongile Sikhonjwa, Poetry Slam, Flame of Africa, Bambelela Arts Ensemble, Hwaiza, Hlisto, Jamzer, Top Stars, Harsh Touch, Kalawa Dance group, DJ Mark Vusani, DJ Easy T, DJ Mellow T, Rainbow Blaze, Taffi Dube, Bongo Love, Mjox lo Mzala & Crew, Tukuye Sounds, Riddim Kings, Ndolwane Super Sounds, Jabu, Icon, and Movement Ebirbiman.
Poetry slam — a new venture at the festival is worth the mention. 15 poets took to the stage to slam their way to the top, a spot that was claimed by Sithandazile who lyrically outwitted all the poets to lift the crown. The event was anchored by Dumisani Sibanda and co-ordinated by Tswarelo Mothobe. The slam featured renowned poets such as Dumisani, Death Sentence, Xtreme, Aero 501, Sithandazile, Quotable, Specific, Rob Iya, Vuki, Boyce, and Tumelo among others .
The football also closed the festival in style, different artists of various forms of art came together to play ball. Prizes on offer were a floating trophy, prize money, and a live goat. On the final was Siyaya Select playing against Mawezi BACOSI Select, mainly dominated by artists from Umdumo Wesizwe, Rainbow blaze, and Umkhathi. 2-0 was the final score line against the crowd favourite Siyaya Select. Stanley Square was the venue for presentation of prizes. After that success, football definitely returns to Ibumba in 2010……..

2009 at a glance…

What started off as a long term dream for the Ibumba festival planning committee seating on a round table in the early months of the year came to fruition on the 8th to the 22nd of December when Ibumba festival kicked off.

Driven by the spirit and the determination to creating a unique festival Ibumba was to go on. The groups were confirmed, the artists accredited and all logistics seeming to be falling in place it was time for the festival to kick off

Tents and flags filled the somewhat always deserted Stanley Hall and Square in Makokoba and created a frenzy of excitement. This was to become the longest version of Ibumba festival since its inception.
Situated in one of the oldest townships in Bulawayo and arguably one of the highly populated locations, Stanley Square and Hall provided an ideal venue for a 16 day festival.

The festival started on a high note with a successful press launch that went on to bear more than 30 statements or press reviews during and immediately after the 16 day period from renowned local, regional and international press who rated the festival par excellence and a cut above the rest.

Following the success of the 2008 edition, three stages were returned to the main festival site, namely the indoor stage, the little theatre and the main stage. The indoor stage was housed inside Stanley Hall and played host to theatre shows from as far as South Africa and Zambia including our very own celebrated Tumbuka Dance Company who presented a collaboration with Iyasa called “Dancing with Stars”. The little Theatre staged small productions in terms of the casts. It presented a platform for the new and upcoming groups that included school drama groups from around Bulawayo. The “Main Stage” was where the main bands battled it out. From the gospel groups to the renowned kwaito acts, musicians took to the stage and lifted the festival mood.
Living to its name of “International” festival, Ibumba bused in singers, actors, dancers, DJ`s and performers from as far as USA, Malaysia, South Africa and Zambia. Local artists were not excluded in the “who is who” line up at Ibumba. Locally based artists were provided a platform to rub shoulders with international acts. A Total of 58 groups took to the stage to mesmerize audience. The groups that performed at Ibumba festival 2009 included: Jeys Marabini, IYASA, Cool Crooners, Umdumo wesizwe, Janet Wood, Rainbow Blaze, Mjox lomzala, DJ Andy D Rock, Jabu, Yebo Africa, Rolx Dance Company, Kwabatsha Dance group, Missing piece, Chocolate Rhythms, Kadder, Mavutete,Flame of Africa, Rus Kura, Vibe Stars, Ottis Ngwabi, Mandla Gama, Jaunda Express, Taffi Dube, Hwabaraty, Ingwe Stars, Douglas Chirenda, Hlisto, T-Pie,Ezimnyama, Ihawu lezizwe, Impumelelo Shining Stars, Black Smith, Phephindaba, Riddim Kings, Calabash & Sons, Hloseni, Africa Directions, Albert Nyathi & Imbongi, Coming up Arts, Dino Mudondo, Ingwenyama Arts, Eric Moyo, Mustard Seed Choir, Simunye Simunye, Go Boyz and Achuzzi, DJ Tenny T, Mgarimbe, Magesh Tornadoes, Mountain Peek, Ingwenyama, Ingwenyama Juniors, Siyaya Kids, Siyaya Arts, Tukuye Stars, Anavarata Dance group
Born through a serious belief in the arts, Ibumba festival will continue to strive to survive and push its vast objections. 2009 came and went with its lessons, lessons that will bear a lot of influence in the running of the 2010 festival. One clear thing is that Ibumba festival will happen in 2010. Dates have already been set and proposals drafted and yet again we brace ourselves to fight the war of sponsorship, the appeals for help to make this a better and bigger festival.

Funding

Ibumba International Festival is funded by Siyaya Arts and Friends of the Festival. Siyaya Arts co-ordinates Ibumba with money raised from their performances locally and abroad. In recent years support has been coming from the corporate world, with support from Providence Film and Sound, Culture Fund, and Sabela Music Projects (SMP). Invitation for more funders is still open for this festival to reach its intended growth Siyaya and the few Sponsors and Friends of the Festival need more support from all sectors that is public, government, and corporate.

Mission & Aims

We are committed to establishing a community arts festival and a celebration resident in Bulawayo Zimbabwe and aim to use it as a vehicle for the promotion of our ‘Theatre for Development’ programme and also as a way of creating viability and sustenance in the Arts. The long term goals are aimed at bringing about sustenance and viability in the local arts industry through providing a platform for learning, training, collaboration, and sharing.

This festival continues with most of the contacts and activities that have been instigated by Siyaya Arts in the last editions, aiming to:

Create a vibrant multi-cultural event that will bring recreation and entertainment to the city of Bulawayo, Zimbabwe’s cultural capital.
Celebrate the coming of age of Siyaya Arts Productions, a trend which we hope a lot of our local production houses will not only want to emulate but can also surpass.
Encourage collaboration and provide a platform of learning, sharing, and a culture of tolerance through music, poetry, dance, and theatre performances, seminars, and workshops.
Involve young people in the arts activities and give them an opportunity to explore their culture and appreciate it.
Promote audience building and encourage appreciation of the local arts.
Set up a platform for artists to share and discuss matters of their interests and equip them with skills and information through workshops and seminars.
Spread HIV & AIDS awareness among the artists, youth, the community, and all the participants through workshops, seminars, and other means.
Empower and develop Siyaya Arts Productions as an indigenous arts organisation committed to self-sustenance and viability.
Encourage the adoption of community oriented aims and objectives and partake in current (up to date) community programmes and activities.