Greetings,
Many of you have heard that we have had sad news about several Zimbabwean teachers and performers who are unable to come to this year’s festival. Polyphony Marimba had applied for visas for Tawanda Mapanda and Barnabas Ngalande. Their petitions were still not approved by the time the group was ready to leave for their tour, so they had to abandon the applications. They will try again for next Zimfest! The OC has worked hard to engage several experienced teachers to take over their workshops or offer others in their place. Please consult the Festival Updates and Workshop Changes page for all workshop adjustments and replacement teachers.
Jacob Mafuleni and Martha Thom, both veterans of prior Zimfests, were inexplicably denied their visas at the US Embassy in Harare. This was devastating news to Dana Moffett and Matanho Project, their sponsor, who worked very hard to bring Jacob and Martha back to the US. However, their son Abel Mafuleni has been granted his visa and is coming. We look forward to Abel’s workshops and performance representing the Mafuleni Family and Tsoro Arts. Again, check the website for Workshop Changes; you may find some enticing new offerings on the workshop schedule!
Finally, we are not out of the woods yet. Marimba specialist Patience Musandirire has received his visa and was intending to purchase his own plane ticket as he has no sponsor. However, because of the drastic shortage of foreign currency in Zimbabwe, he has been unable to acquire enough US dollars for the ticket. He needs financial assistance. What would help most at this point is for someone to help him by setting up a GoFundMe campaign here in the US. If you think you can help, please write to the OC as soon as possible at 2018 {at} zimfest {dot} org.
Music Dancing Across Borders
Help these folks cross the the border!
Claire Jones, Festival Coordinator
On behalf of the 2018 Organizing Committee
Greetings all,
We are happy to announce that Mary Shales, volunteer and attendee at several previous Zimfests, has launched a Gofundme campaign to raise money for Patience’s plane ticket. Thank you Mary! If you wish to donate, the direct link is gf.me/u/jtysvt. Tatenda!
Claire
That is great news: thank you, Mary! I am very sad and, as an American, ashamed, that the United States Embassy in Harare again denied several wonderful teachers visas this year. Thank you to all who tried their best.