ZANU-PF supporters of President Robert Mugabe in Mahusekwa, south-east of the Zimbabwe capital of Harare. National elections were held on Saturday, March 29, 2008.
Originally uploaded by Pan-African News Wire File Photos
By Richmore Tera
Zimbabwe Herald
THE National Art Gallery of Zimbabwe in collaboration with the embassies of Canada and Spain, recently held a series of arts events as part of commemorations to mark International Women’s Day.
International Women’s Day is observed on March 8 every year to celebrate the achievements that women the world over have made in the areas of politics, economy and the arts, among others.
Various women artistes from all walks of the Zimbabwean life took turns to showcase their art works while at the same time speaking on issues affecting them as women.
A film screening held under the theme "It’s Time African Women Join Hands to Fight Domestic Violence," exposed the ugly sides of domestic violence. The late female sculptor Colleen Madamombe was remembered through a posthumous sculpture exhibition dubbed "A Brief Life," featuring some of her works. She was one of the few local female visual artists who put Zimbabwe on the world map before her untimely death.
That women are also as good as their male counterparts when it comes to playing musical instruments like the mbira and saxophone was evident when various artistes took to the stage to thrill the audience.
Gifted mbira player Hope Masike was in fine form, while Praise Nyandimu and Jazz Kisses Band from Mutare, also impressed.
Born Free, Misfit, Sister Xapa, Oasis, Aura and Cynthia vented women’s concerns through their poetry, hip hop and dance performances.
As what has become a norm, renowned filmmaker and author Tsitsi Dangarembga and fellow writer Virginia Phiri stimulated interesting debate on the theme of the day with their incisive presentations.
Fashion, that is an integral part of women, also came under the spotlight with various designers including those from Zimbabwe Fashion Week taking turns to showcase their various designer-wares.
"The Portrayal of Women in the Mainstream Media" was another thought-provoking discussion in the way that the speakers probed the various facets through which women are often projected in a stereotypical way in the media.
Canadian Ambassador to Zimbabwe Barbara Richardson gave the opening remarks while her Spanish counterpart delivered the closing speech.
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