HARARE - Preparations for staging of annual Pakare Paye SPAR Solo Festival on Saturday are going according to plan and foreign artistes are expected to jet in separately, tomorrow and Saturday.

Suzanna Owiyo, who is travelling from Kenya is first to arrive on Friday while Kunle Ayo from Nigeria jets in on Saturday.

The festival now in its sixth year has the international flavour for the first time with the performances of Owiyo and Kunle.

In the past only local artistes have graced the solo festival now realising modest growth with the participation of the international artistes.

On the ground, preparations are pretty much advanced at Pakare Paye Arts Centre in Norton where the festival is taking place at the main stage that accommodates 3 000 fans outdoors.  

Full bar and catering services are in place and the new lodges for overnight accommodation are fully at the service of guests.

While the festival provides sheer entertainment for families essentially it is to the performing artistes an exercise to help them develop their individual talents and build more confidence that they can perform solo away from groups or bands and still entertain and make a living.

Pakare Paye SPAR Solo Festival is the biggest gathering of solo artistes from diverse art forms in Zimbabwe and it is growing every year from humble beginnings when only a handful of artistes performed.
Now over 30 artistes perform every year at the main festival that is preceded by the schools mentoring workshop and performances.

The SPAR Guild of Grocers is the platinum sponsors of the festival, Culture Fund Trust Zimbabwe supports the schools festival and the Daily News is the media partner.

Tuku Music, Pakare Paye Arts Centre, Jazz 105 and Chipaz Promotions are partners to the festival.
Local artistes who have been mentored at the solo festival and now perform at their own solo shows include Suluman Chimbetu, Munya Mataruse, Donald Kanyuchi and many more.

Oliver Mtukudzi, who performs solo every year at the festival, conceived the solo model and is also founder of Pakare Paye Arts Centre.

The lineup of local artistes this Saturday includes Steve Makoni, Bob Nyabinde, Edith We Utonga, Victor Kunonga, Batsirai Chigama, Clare Nyakujara, Diana Samukange, Munya Mataruse, Donald Kanyuchi, Jah Prayzah, Watson Junior Chidzomba, Allan Chimbetu, Albert Nyathi and many more. The show starts at 5pm.

Admission is $5 for adults and children free.

Admission at the Schools Solo Festival performances on Friday afternoon is free all round and the show starts at 2pm.

For enquiries contact: 0772 630 386 or 0772 422 862.