By Jonathan Mbiriyamveka
Talk of legends, there is no way one can talk about Zimbabwean industry and leave out such a significant name insofar as arts development and promotion is concerned other than Manuel Bagorro.
Bagorro was the founder and artistic director of the Harare International Festival of the Arts, which at one point was rated as one of the best and highly organised showcases in Africa by CNN.
The seven-day arts extravaganza was born out of the idea for Zimbabwe to have an international cultural and arts festival where people exchange ideas and consume the cultural products with no limitations.
Bagorro was born in Zimbabwe of a Portuguese father and an Irish mother. He was educated at Hartman House and St George’s College. He grew up loving music and studied music formally at the Zimbabwe College of Music.
He went abroad in the 1980s to pursue his career as a concert pianist and during his 15 year stay in the United Kingdom he won a number of awards and performed for, among others, President Robert Mugabe, Nelson Mandela and the Queen, Elizabeth II.
HIFA was and still known for its diversity of cultures and world class presentation of the arts.
While there have been many more arts festivals at least up to 40 held in Zimbabwe there is not one of them which comes close to HIFA.
It was quite startling to not that NAMA Legends @40 conveniently left out Bagorro who started HIFA since 1996 and has been run for the last decade. Who would forget the first edition of HIFA which ran under the catchy theme: “You Have Six Days to Live!?
Of course, this is not to say the other legends are not deserving but a thorough look would have included Bagorro.
The event originally penned for 27 February 2021 was postponed to 27 March 2021 after government announced stringent lockdown conditions in the beginning of January 2021.
The month-long lockdown affected the services of critical materials and input suppliers who had to work with limited staff numbers and reduced working hours which impacted on their ability to fulfil tasks within the expected time frames hence the decision to postpone.
In addition, the event which initially was going to be a mix between virtual and live event presentation had to take a new dimension as a 100% virtual show following the introduction of stringent controls on gatherings.
With the legends Awards the NACZ intends to honour individuals who have dedicated their lives to the development of their art through their work and assisting others in the sector.
The legends are people who are well regarded in their sector who helped define our lives as Zimbabweans with their artworks over a long period.
The awards given to the legends in a sense represent government’s recognition of their talents and achievements which are in line with promoting the national interest, values and aspirations.
Adam Madebe
Albert Nyathi
Alick Macheso
Barbara Makhalisa-Nkala
Barnabas Chadamoyo
Ben Mahaka
Bothwell Nyamhondera
Chirikure Chirikure
Cont Mhlanga
Daves Guzha
Dominic Benhura
Ellen Mlangeni
Felix Moyo
Fradreck Mujuru
Helen Leiros
Irene Chigamba
Jasen Mphepo
Jesesi Mungoshi
Joe Njagu
Joyce Jenje-Makwenda
Lovemore Tshuma
Matesu Dube
Musaemura Zimunya
Nakai Matema
Nicholas Zakaria
Nkululeko Innocent Dube
Pathisa Nyathi
Paul Chidyausiku
Rashid Jogee
Shimmer Chinodya
Stella Chiweshe
Stephen Chigorimbo
Susan Chenjerai
Susan Haines
Sylvester Mubayi
Tapfuma Gutsa
Thomas Mapfumo
Tsitsi Dangarembga
Zexie Manatsa
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