THE recently concluded Creative Economy Week, which was held in Harare, generated a vibrant atmosphere ideal for creative industry interactions and conversations.
It was an opportunity that served as a powerful platform for showcasing the dynamic results of collaboration between local creatives and their diaspora counterparts.
The string of carefully curated events ran from March 1 to 4 and was supported by the British Council to cultivate creativity, foster collaboration and drive innovation within the creative sector.
On Friday, Skeyi & Strobo kick-started the week-long programme with a CBD Mega Market pop-up at First Floor Gallery in an event that featured Korokoza Creative a creative media organisation as well as Downtown Conversations, Wav. Den and Nicola Kagoro “Chef Cola”, an international award-winning pioneering female Zimbabwean vegan chef from Afrikan Vegan On A Budget.
One of the event highlights was the Scripts and Bars Accelerator Programme. The exciting creative economy project established in 2021, showcased its 2024 cohort of creative individuals as well as creative organisations during a concert and cocktail night of live music and poetry performances hosted at The Venue in Avondale on Saturday.
The invite-only event was curated by Kaymedia Africa, a local multimedia production studio and consultancy in collaboration with the London-based broadcasting station Radio Reprezent. The audience comprised industry professionals, cultural entrepreneurs and fellow creatives who witnessed the artistic expressions of local animators, singers, poets and dancers.
It also featured highlights from the work of some of the participants who benefited from Scripts and Bars such as animator Kuda Rwizi, singer-songwriter Kim Makumbe who performed her song Body; as well as poet Margaret Chideme who read from her book First 30.
The 2024 Creative Accelerator leads up to events where participants’ work is showcased on a wider platform and serves as the launch of their products or services. Extra Effects a dynamic and innovative disc jockey, Sihlobo Bulala (creative writing blogger), Lalla Martin (singer-songwriter), Verseless (music producer), Bush Baby X (hip-hop artiste), Sonkomose (spoken word poet), Eden Lang (singer-songwriter) took turns to showcase their creativity.
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Their diverse expressions of creativity left a lasting impression on the audience, solidifying the programme’s role in nurturing and empowering some of the country’s best emerging creative talent in music and literature.
There were also screenings of trailers and documentary films in between sets which spotlighted programme participants such as Cherhyuga an animator, digital illustrator, webcomic creator and storyboard artist as well as Eleni Athitaki, a creative entrepreneur who runs Katikitiki Space which is a creative hub based in Newlands Harare.
“The showcase event was truly a celebration and exhibition of the impact of the Scripts and Bars programme on the emerging creative talent on show,” Keith Kuhudzai, the managing director of Kay Media Africa told Newsday Life & Style, adding that the event was evidence that if young creatives were supported through investment and collaboration they could thrive and fulfil their dreams.
