INTWASA Arts Festival and ZiMU to Host Gender at Work Campaign Conference
INTWASA Arts Festival koBulawayo is partnering with the Zimbabwe Musicians Union (ZiMU) to host a “Gender at Work Campaign Conference” on September 25 as part of the festival’s 21st-anniversary celebrations. The conference will take place at The Bulawayo Club and will focus on gender equity, creative empowerment, and inclusive leadership in Zimbabwe’s arts sector.
The day-long event will feature panel discussions, interactive workshops, and networking sessions aimed at fostering collaboration across artistic disciplines. ZiMU highlighted the importance of the initiative, stating, “This initiative directly responds to needs identified during our nationwide ‘Musician as a Worker’ campaign. Consultations across all 10 provinces highlighted the urgent need for dedicated gender-focused research, campaigning, and training. This conference is a vital step in advancing decent work standards, aligned with ILO and UNESCO principles.”
For Intwasa, Zimbabwe’s oldest multidisciplinary arts festival, the conference demonstrates a commitment to social impact beyond the stage. The 2025 edition, running from September 24 to 27, features the 21st-anniversary presentation of Ipi Ntombi, a school poetry competition, and a comedy night with Mbongeni Ignatius and Frank Chirisa. Festival organisers noted that the conference is “a collaborative effort between Intwasa Arts Festival and ZiMU, aimed at amplifying discussions on gender equity, creative empowerment, and inclusive leadership in the arts. Panel discussions, workshops, and networking sessions are designed to spark cross-disciplinary collaboration.”
By leveraging Intwasa’s platform, which celebrates music, film, spoken word, theatre, dance, literary arts, fashion, and crafts, the partnership seeks to create a more equitable and empowered future for creatives in Zimbabwe. Gender equity will be a central theme during this milestone year, ensuring the festival not only entertains but also drives meaningful change in the arts sector.
