Emirates flies high for HIFA

Airline brings together performers and audiences from across the globe

Renowned musicians, singers, dancers and other artistes are travelling from across the globe with Emirates this week to share in the magic of the Harare International Festival of the Arts (HIFA).

As ‘Airline of Choice’ for the event, Emirates, which flies daily from Harare to Lusaka and Dubai, will be flying in some 16 performers for the six-day extravaganza running from April 29 to May 4.

“Connecting people is what Emirates does best, And what better way to do that that share in the passions and energy of the Harare International Festival of the Arts?” said Emirates Country Manager Paulos Legesse.

This year’s festival, themed “Switch On”, is the 15^th annual festival and workshop programme, showcasing the best of local, regional and international arts and culture covering theatre, dance, music, circus, street performance, fashion, spoken word and visual arts. It is now the largest cultural event in Zimbabwe and among the eight major festivals in Africa.

“The programme this year is amazing in so many ways – diverse, innovative, prestigious and adventurous. It demonstrates the broad range of our audiences’ artistic interests, and the dynamic cultural diversity of our community. A warm welcome and congratulations to all artists participating in HIFA 2014!” said HIFA founder and artistic director Manuel Bagorro in this year’s festival programme.

In addition to the many local acts, international highlights of the festival include the CABS Opera, led by US pianist, conductor and musical director, Jerry Steichen; Ivory Coast singer, dancer and percussionist Dobet Gnahoré; the Zimboita Zimbabwean-Italian virtuoso drumming duo; the Chef’ Special five-piece band from the Netherlands; guitarists Andrea Valeri from Italy, Will McNicol from Scotland, and Maneli Jamal, who was in Belarus of Iranian descent and has taken the Canadian finger-style world by storm; Irish folk group Dervish; New York trio Remix Culture; the Kunzwana #1 an Austria-Zimbabwe group; Maria João and Mário Laginha from Portugal; South African supergroup Freshly Ground; Acada Canto from Spain; American mezzo-soprano Krysty Swann; US pianist Stephen Prutsman;