Glastonbury, the UK’s biggest festival, was graced by a touch of Zimbabwe this year. Zimbabwean creatives added their voice to the vibrant showcase of culture in both music and art:
Rachel Chinouriri, the British Indie pop star of Zimbabwean heritage, performed on the Field Of Avalon stage. Regarded as 2024’s most exciting breakout star, the double Brit Awards nominee, is one of the UK’s most accomplished young songwriters, with over 180 million streams to date.
Awa Khiwe, the Nkayi native now based in Germany, graced Glastonbury’s Terminal 1 stage for an hour long solo performance, before returning as part of the all-female band GRRRL. The showcase was curated by In Place Of War, an organisation that uses creativity in places impacted by conflict.
“When I started making music I never thought I would go this far honestly. I am soooo emotional, so excited and so grateful man… A big thank you to EVERYONE who made this possible.” – Awa Khiwe via Instagram
Build the Peace, a collaborative international art initiative, showcased a mural painted in the Zimbabwean township of Chitungwiza. A reciprocal mural will be painted live in Arcadia during the Festival and sent back to Chitungwiza where it will be added to by local artists, exploring how art is a tool for positive change in a post-conflict environment.
The project is being brought to life by the collaboration of Arcadia, In Place Of War and Shoko Festival.
