Zimfest News Blog

Posts by Zimfest Association Board

Zimfest Fundraising Campaign – Thank You!

To all those who have contributed to our Zimfest Fundraising campaign, a heartfelt thanks! Your generosity, along with the generosity of several donors who provided matching funds, has provided the Zimfest Association with a grand total of $7,799 for this campaign, according to our Treasurer, Heather Steele. This is almost enough to cover the deficit sustained after Zimfest 2025, and we are so grateful for your contributions! Tatenda, Siyabonga, and Thank You so much!

P.S. Just because the fundraising campaign is over, this does not mean you can’t donate to Zimfest. Of course you can! So if you happened to win the lottery or received a particularly nice Christmas bonus, you can support Zimfest 2027 by donating here.

Maria Minnaar Bailey
Interim President
Zimfest Association Board of Directors

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December Board Meeting Minutes

Minutes from the December 14th meeting of the Zimfest Association board of directors have been posted.

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Thank You Adrienne

On behalf of everyone on the Zimfest Association Board, I would like express my heartfelt thanks to Adrienne Stewart, who has completed a two-year term on the Zimfest Board of Directors, and now needs to step off due to other commitments.

Adrienne has served in leadership positions on multiple other nonprofit boards. With her skills in governance, accounting and project management, she has done much to help further the goals of Zimfest during these past two years. I am personally in awe of her intimate familiarity with Roberts Rules of Order, which stems from the fact that she has actually read the entire 700-plus page volume!

When the Z.A. Board found itself in need of a new President, with nobody volunteering for the position, we came up with the idea of a rotating Presidency. Each interim President would serve four months of the year in turn, presiding over Board meetings and performing other presidential duties. Adrienne stepped up to the plate right away, and along with Tendai Muparutsa and me, she has been one of our three Presidents for the past two years. As the current President during Zimfest 2025, she did a beautiful job presiding over our Village Meeting, in addition to volunteering tirelessly during the festival itself. In fact, if you went to any evening concerts at Zimfest 2025, Adrienne was probably the one who took your ticket and stamped your arm.

We greatly appreciate her service, and all her knowledge of governance that she has freely shared with us. She assures us that she will still be volunteering at future Zimfests, and we look forward to seeing her there!

With deepest gratitude,

Maria Minnaar Bailey
Interim President
Zimfest Association Board of Directors

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September, October and November Board Meeting Minutes

Minutes from the September 14th, October 12th and November 9th meetings of the Zimfest Association board of directors have been posted.

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Support Zimfest Today with a Triple-Matched Donation

Dear Zimfest Friends,

Giving Tuesday is almost here (December 2nd) — and there’s no better time to support Zimfest!

Make a difference with a tax-deductible donation, triple matched up to $3,000! And don’t forget to check if your employer offers matching gifts on top of that!

Support Zimfest – Donate

If you haven’t yet joined or renewed your Zimfest Association membership, this Giving Tuesday is the perfect opportunity. It’s an easy way to give back and help ensure the festival continues to thrive and grow for years to come.

Join or Renew Your Membership

Thank you for being part of the Zimfest family. Your support keeps this community strong, and we can’t wait to celebrate with you again in 2027.

With gratitude,
The Zimfest Association Board

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Your Opportunity to Support Zimfest — Plus, a Matched Donation!

Dear Zimfest Friends, Supporters and Members,

As we approach the end of another year, we want to take a moment to thank you for making the 2025 festival such a joyful celebration of Zimbabwean music. Zimfest would not be possible without the dedication and enthusiasm of our community.

Relive the magic of Zimfest! Check out a highlight from this year’s festival here.

While there won’t be a festival in 2026, we’re already laying the groundwork for an unforgettable 2027 weekend. We also want to share that the festival operated at a loss of just over $4,000 this past year — a reminder of how much we rely on the continued support of our community to keep Zimfest strong and sustainable. Your contributions allow us to invite exceptional Zimbabwean teachers and performers, both new and returning, to share their talents each year.

This Giving Tuesday, we invite you to show your love for Zimfest by making a tax-deductible donation, or by joining or renewing your membership in the Zimfest Association. Every contribution — large or small — helps sustain the festival, support visiting artists, and keep this Zimfest going strong year after year.

We invite you to join or renew your Zimfest Association membership. It’s one of the most meaningful ways to help sustain the festival year-round.

Become a Member or Renew Today

Membership comes with special perks, including:

  • Free festival registration
  • Early access to workshop sign-ups
  • Knowing you’re helping Zimfest thrive for years to come

Already a member? Consider deepening your impact with a tax-deductible donation, or check if your employer offers matching gifts — an easy way to double your contribution. And for this Giving Tuesday, every dollar donated up to $3,000 will be triple matched — your $1 becomes $3!

Donate — Support Zimfest

Thank you again for your continued support, and for being such an important part of the Zimfest community. We wish you a wonderful holiday season!

Warmly,
—The Zimfest Association Board

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June and July Board Meeting Minutes

Minutes from the June 8th and July 13th meetings of the Zimfest Association board of directors have been posted.

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May Board Meeting Minutes

Minutes from the May 11th meeting of the Zimfest Association Board of Directors have been posted.

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March and April Board Meeting Minutes

Minutes from the March 9th and April 13th meetings of the Zimfest Association board of directors have been posted.

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January and February Board Meeting Minutes

Minutes from the January 12th and February 9th meetings of the Zimfest Association board of directors have been posted.

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Zimfest New Model: Every Other Year

The Zimfest Association Board has made the decision to change the frequency of Zimfest from an annual to a biennial (every other year) festival, starting from 2025. There were many reasons for this decision. For details, please see the December Board Meeting Minutes.

Zimfest will be alternating years with the Nhemamusasa North Zimbabwe-music festival in Canada, which is already using the biennial model. This means that every year, there will be a festival for those who love Zimbabwean music — either Zimfest in the U.S., or Nhemamusasa North in Canada — with no date conflicts between them.

Sincerely,

Maria Minnaar Bailey
Acting President, ZA Board

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December Board Meeting Minutes

Minutes from the December 8th meeting of the Zimfest Association Board of Directors have been posted.

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