It’s not just adults who are well catered to at HIFA, but a dedicated arena and stage line up delighted kids, grooming the next generation of dance, music and theatre aficionados.

The Simba Youth Zone is where minors could go to have fun watching performances by their peers, and also adults still young at heart.

Highlights in the Kid’s Zone included Dzivarasekwa’s  Dzikwa Trust. They danced various traditional dances including the famed gum boot dance. Their marimba crew put on an electric performance which drove the young audience wild. It was a show which delighted not just children, but their parents too.

Poets also took to stage with some light hearted spoken word. Of note was Vokal Da Poet who kept his audience engaged by asking them to help him with his pieces. The choral participation from the youthful audience made the experience delightful for everybody.

Another great show for children was the play Romeo and Juliet staged in what used to house Rooftop’s Theatre In The Park. The performance done by students from Pamushana High School was well crafted, a perfect re-tell of the great romantic story by William Shakespeare.

13 year old Christine Mperekwa said, “I really enjoyed myself hanging around people of different races, the same age as me. It helped me learn about other people and unfamiliar culture.” She said the marimba performance was a delight.

Aspiring poet, 15 year old Tafadzwa Muradzikwa said, “I was inspired with performance by established artists in poetry. I hope one day I will have a chance to get on that stage and share my own gift with my peers.”

Cathy Meres who had come with her two daughters said she got a chance to understand her children better. “I now understand what they enjoy, different performances from a wide range of genres granted me that opportunity,” she said.

The Youth Zone is a recurring feature of the HIFA landscape and the role it plays in cultivating social and cultural awareness in Harare’s youth cannot be understated.

The Simba Youth Zone was a busy and energised space throughout the 6 days of HIFA.