By Brighton Ncube

The first edition of Intwasa Arts Festival koBulawayo took place in 2005. The festival was born out a need and desire by the Bulawayo community of artists for a platform to showcase, share and celebrate arts and culture in a different way through a festival coming at an appropriate time , season and its name speaks for its self “intwasa”.

Discussions on the idea of an all inclusive arts gathering started from the offices of the local Mayor, the Governor, and the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe. After consultations with local artists the discussions were were done, later on giving birth to a child that is Intwasa Arts Festival koBulawayo.

The festival covers the following disciplines: Visual Arts, Film, Theatre, Dance, Music, Literary Arts, Spoken Word, and Fashion. 12 years later the festival is still growing , rising and being celebrated by many people in the arts industry in the city of kings and queens.” This is the time Bulawayo is set on fire and comes alive through this festival” alludes one famous comedian

The 12th Intwasa Arts Festival is set to get underway in KoBulawayo on the 26th of September to the 1st of October 2016. This year festival is run under the theme “expressions” .According to the festival director Raisedon Baya ‘s twitter timeline he says the emphasis is on the freedom of expression, thought, conscience and creativity.

He goes further to sight the diverse activities that people can look foward to this year Intwasa Arts Festival held in KoBulawayo at a time when the art industry in growing every day and Bulawayo being the home of craft and art.