Zimfest is a one day festival that has been celebrated by Zimbabweans around the world for the past decade. Centrepiece is music, every aspect of Zim culture is covered from Shona and Ndebele music to Hip Hop, House, Soul, Rock etc. At the London event they have a
live performance setup and a dj stage. Zimfest also includes a market area where people are invited to sell Zimstuff or advertise their products. Sports covered by the event includes Rugby and Soccer.
Its existence came about when a group of black, white, shona, ndebele, coloured Zimbabweans met at the Monday night forum in London back in 2000. It was essentially an event to support the MDC effort.
Fundraisers and campaigns ran including 48 hour winter vigils in London which meant sleeping on the cold concrete (Tough aint it) and zimfest which has grown over the years into Zimfest as it is now. While its organisers supported the efforts of the MDC, there were never members and eventually had to separate work from the politics forever, which lead to the birth of WEZIMBABWE, a charity organisation which got its name from the belief Zimbabweans are the only people who can bring their beloved country back to its feet.
WeZimbabwe's main project is Zimfest which is all about keeping the Zimbabwean community abroad together in the hope that it translates into something which could eventually be used to help in solving the Zimbabwe Situation. The organization also runs a scholarship fund with WOZA , supports defenders of human rights in Zimabwe, helped promote Zim Artists, fund a school project in Zimbabwe, Fund food projects and worked with Bulawayo's Catholic Women league at Ingutsheni Mental health hospital in Famona providing various other grants.
WeZimbabwe is funded by its own efforts like Zimfest and hopes to increase its sources. It is currently active in UK, Zimbabwe, Australia, South Africa, Canada and the USA
WeZimbabwe's Mission is
To define a new consciousness amongst Zimbabweans that defines us as Zimbabwean first and our race or tribe later. A consciousness that challenges us all to take care of our problems through our own capacity rather than asking for external help. Above all we are an organisation that seeks to unite Zimbabwe even if we don't agree on everything.
Artists who have shared the stage at Zimfest includes OLIVER MTUKUDZI, SIYAYA ARTS, MANN FRIDAY, ROZALLA MILLER, HARARE, BKAY AND KAZZ, RINA MUSHONGA, PAUL LUNGA, THABANI, ALBERT NYATHI AND MBONGI, BLACK UMFOLOSI, HERITAGE SURVIVAL, LINOS WENGARA, JIMMY CHIOZO (MALAWI), NETSAYI, CHIWONISO, COMRADE FATSO, SCRAGGLY HOUND, DKR, HENRY OLONGA, KARIZMA, BUSH GURU, ANNA MUDEKA, MO LAUDI (TANZANIA), KYO COLLECTIVE (UK), DENNIS TAPFUMA, DJ MUJAY, KELVIN SIFELANI, EWAN CAMERON, DJ PIUS, DJ ROFFIE, TERENCE MAS, SAHARA C, DHINDINDI, BRIAN TEMBA (SA), LLOYD MUSARA, MISTER CEE (MUSIQAVE) I LOVE MY DJ (ilovemydj.co.uk - UK & AUSTRALIA) EZRA "TSHISA" SIBANDA, TRENTON AND FREE RADICAL (SA/UK) KAMIKAZE TEST PILOTS.... s
For more information please visit ZimFestLive and WeZimbabwe (Zimbabwe's number one entertainment blog)