At the end of 2024, Africalia concluded its operations in Zimbabwe. Africalia has been present in Zimbabwe for almost two decades and has supported a large number of cultural players across the country. In recent years, we have collaborated closely with Nhimbe Trust and AfriKera Arts Trust, as well as, through the latter organisation, with Music Crossroads Academy and Zimbabwe Theatre Academy. Following a thorough exit strategy, the conclusion of the partnership with AfriKera Arts Trust at the end of 2024 (having already ended our collaboration with our other partners in 2023) marked the official end of our activity in Zimbabwe.
Some highlights
Through the cinema, theatre, dance and music programmes run by our partners in the field, we have always sought to have a greater impact on the structuring and professionalisation of the cultural sector. Let's seize this opportunity to look back at some of the highlights of our activity in the country!
The Schools Performing Arts Academy and the Women in Theatre initiative, launched in Bulawayo by Nhimbe Trust over 15 years ago, continue to enable many young people and women to take part in training courses and build a future for themselves in the culture sector. In keeping with the times, the Nhimbe Trust has now extended the scope of its research and advocacy in the field of cultural governance, for example by exploring the capacity of AI to foster social progress.
By supporting its partners in the training of young dancers, Africalia has helped these talented dancers to conquer the international stage. In 2010, for example, the Zimbabwean group Essence of Women benefited from Africalia's mobility funds to take part in the Kenya Peace Festival. More recently, the show Making Men, a collaboration between the Brussels-based Dunia Dance Company and AfriKera Arts Trust in Zimbabwe, which was selected following an Africalia call for proposals in 2018, continues to tour Europe to this day.
Thanks to the involvement of our partners in numerous arts festivals in Zimbabwe itself, such as Harare International Festival of the Arts, Jacaranda Festival, Intwasa koBulawayo Arts Festival, Arts Gathering, Bulawayo Arts Festival, Shoko Festival, etc., Africalia has further contributed to bringing culture closer to the general public. The Mitambo International Theatre Festival coordinated by Zimbabwe Theatre Academy is an excellent example of an annual festival where (inter)national communities and artists come together and celebrate the diversity of cultural identities and artistic expression.
For more than a decade, young musicians mentored by Music Crossroads have been able to develop their talents and showcase them beyond national borders. The victory of the pupils who form the Ukama Band at the Imagine Music Xperience international competition in Brussels in December 2024 was a culmination point for Africalia's Zimbabwe programme.
... and these are only a few examples of the exceptional cultural activities to which we have been able to contribute.
The end of a chapter
As part of the gradual phasing out of the Zimbabwe programme, Africalia has made additional efforts in recent years to strengthen the governance fabric, financial autonomy and advocacy capacity of its partners. We will continue to closely follow the activities of Nhimbe Trust and AfriKera Arts Trust. Through their cultural initiatives, creativity will remain a driving force for progress in Zimbabwe.
To close the chapter of our collaboration with our Zimbabwean partners, we give them the last word:
'Thanks to Africalia's support, we have been able to concentrate on our actual cultural activities. Africalia helps others to spread their artistic wings.' - AfriKera Arts Trust
