The Harare International Festival of the Arts (HIFA) is one of Africa's largest international arts festivals. Established in 1999 by Manuel Bagorro the festival takes place each year in late April or early May in Harare, the capital of Zimbabwe. The week-long festival encompasses five principal disciplines: theatre, music, dance, fine art, and poetry.
Operating in a difficult environment Organizing and facilitating a festival the size of HIFA in the difficult sociopolitical and economic conditions that characterize Zimbabwe today is no easy task. 2008 was a particularly difficult year for the Festival, with controversial elections and hyperinflation, which ultimately led to the collapse of the Zimbabwean Dollar, providing an unsettling backdrop.
Funding As a private endeavour, HIFA depends on funding from private sources, including local businesses and multinational corporations. Further supplementary funding comes from donors, and embassy missions represented in Harare. Funding from embassies and missions is largely used to facilitate artists from their respective countries. Other revenue sources include fees collected from ticket sales from the different shows run during HIFA week.
Themes As a private endeavour, HIFA depends on funding from private sources, including local businesses and multinational corporations. Further supplementary funding comes from donors, and embassy missions represented in Harare. Funding from embassies and missions is largely used to facilitate artists from their respective countries. Other revenue sources include fees collected from ticket sales from the different shows run during HIFA week. +YearTheme1999 -2000 -2001 -2002Cancelled.2003Renew!2004 -2005 -2006Hand in Hand2007It's Show Time!2008The Art of Determination2009Enligh10ment2010About Face2011The Engagement Party2012A Show of Spirit2013What's Next ...2014Switch On2015Articulate2016Cancelled.2017Staging an Intervention2018We Count2019Cancelled.
References
External links
BBC Radio Interview with Manuel Bagorro BBC Blog on the 2008 Festival 2008 Guardian Article KadmusArts Entry