The European Union (EU) delegation in Zimbabwe hosted an evening reception at Ambassador Jobst von Kirchmann’s residence in Chisipite on May 9 to celebrate Europe Day under the theme “United in Diversity”.
The event commemorated the EU’s founding in 1993, though its origins trace back to 1949 when a core group of Western and Northern European nations laid the groundwork for today’s union.
It brought together several government officials, including Deputy minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Sheilla Chikomo, who was the guest of honour. Also, in attendance were 16 EU heads of missions as well as ambassadors and representatives from civil society and business sectors.
In his opening remarks, von Kirchmann announced the upcoming EU-Zimbabwe Business Forum scheduled from May 20 to 22 at Hyatt Regency in Harare.
“We already have over 200 companies registered. This will be a unique opportunity for European companies to come and meet Zimbabwean companies, but also for policymakers, investors and everybody else who is interested,” Chikomo said on the sidelines of the event. “We are celebrating partnerships. This is a great milestone, and I am excited to be here.”
Guests enjoyed a rich cultural experience featuring European gastronomy, with various embassies offering samples of their national cuisines, alongside live musical performances by renowned Zimbabwean vocalists Mary Anibal and Feli Nandi, German DJ/producer Kolorz with his melodic house and techno beats, experimental Afro-electronic group Bantu Spaceship and Bulawayo hip-hop artist Asaph Afrika.
When questioned by IndependentXtra about the EU’s continued support for Zimbabwean arts, von Kirchmann emphasised their commitment: “It’s not only the European Union, but its team Europe supporting heavily arts and culture. We have just launched the second phase of Creation Action2, which I think is an important moment because there is so much talent around. There are so many young artists in Zimbabwe not only from Harare and Bulawayo but everywhere.
“The creatives will be able to benefit from small grants. Many of our member states have engaged in cultural activities — why, because culture is also a form of building bridges and mutual understanding.”
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Several of the artists who performed at the commemorations serve as ambassadors for collaborative EU programmes. Mary Anibal, Asaph Afrika and Feli Nandi represent the EU’s Global Gateway Green and Gender campaign, while Bantu Spaceship were part of Harmonies of Expression, a cultural programme that is a groundbreaking celebration of art, science and cultural collaboration between Zimbabwean and European artists.
Bantu Spaceship, who had earlier on the same day collaborated with Kolorz in a sonic workshop at the Zimbabwe German Society, jointly performed with the DJ during the Harmonies of Expression festival finale hosted at the National Gallery of Zimbabwe on May 10.
Performances also featured Swedish R&B artist Cherrie alongside local Afro-jazz musician Nasibo.
The festival offered multifaceted cultural engagements, both indoors and in the gallery garden. These included culinary and dance showcases led by French dancer and choreographer Soukaina Marie-Laure Edom and local vegan chef, Chef Cola.
The event also featured an upcycled design exhibition, presenting furniture and craft pieces by Italian eco-social entrepreneur Alessandra Nicola and environmental activist Tichaona Maledadi. Sustainable fashion took centre stage with works by visual artist Evans Tinashe Mutenga, Spanish designer Natalia Carrasco Rodriguez, London-based designer Ellen Rock, and art and design collective Fabrik Party.
A particularly striking collaboration between multidisciplinary artist Kombo Chapfika and Dutch photographer and visual storyteller Eveline Gerrtsen explored the devastating effects of climate change and human activity on Zimbabwe’s wetlands.
The festival was organised by the Swedish embassy in collaboration with several EU member states through the Zimbabwe chapter of the EU National Institutes for Culture.
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