NORTON – The annual SPAR Solo Fest Pakare Paye will be held on Saturday 3rd December here and is being preceded this year by a workshop and performances by secondary school pupils the previous day.

We are pleased the festival is realizing some modest growth in its programming and line-up of artists.

Unlike previous years this year we have international artists Steve Dyre from South Africa and Suzanna Owiyo from Kenya.

With the kind support of the Culture Fund Trust Zimbabwe, who have partnered us this year, it means we are able to facilitate a day’s arts training session and performances by young talent from the schools in line with our vision to mentor youngsters.

Left: Kapfupi in comedy at the 2010 Solo Fest.

After the workshop the pupils showcase skills and talent from 2pm to 4pm. Admission for the Friday 2nd December performances is entirely free all round.

The main festival then takes place the following day on Saturday with a cover charge of $5 for adults while children have free entry. Starting time is 2pm.

This year our platinum partners the SPAR Guild of Grocers are with us again and so are our official media partners News Day both of whom are in the second year of supporting the solo festival now in its fifth year.

Music promotion entities Chipaz Promotions and Jazz 105 are also partnering us including Tuku Music. Individual friends of Pakare Paye Arts Centre have also committed support.

We will soon be publishing programmes for the two days of the festival and the full line-up of the performing artists.

While the festival is a family day, to the artists it provides a platform for them to individually enhance their confidence as solo performers.

The performers include musicians, poets, dancers, instrumentalists, dramatists, comedians, story-tellers and more.

The solo festival concept, a brainchild of Oliver Mtukudzi, is to help groom a solo artist and assure the performers that they can work in solo environs and still provide entertainment and make a living.

The festival patron is the internationally acclaimed sculptor Dominic Benhura, the artistic director is Mtukudzi himself, Watson Chidzomba is festival director and Shepherd Mutamba first assistant director.

Above: A pre-Solo Fest luncheon is served to guests and artists in 2010.

Above: Guests follow procedings at the Solo Fest 2010.

– Pakare Paye / tukumusik.com