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- Eclectic live music programme — HIFA’s heartbeat. You’ll hear everything from traditional mbira and chimurenga to stripped-back acoustic sets, jazz and unexpected cross-cultural collaborations on intimate stages and open-air tents. It’s the place to catch raw, unrepeatable jams and late-night sets where local and visiting musicians swap ideas on the fly. (Personal favorite)
- Theatre and contemporary dance — bold storytelling and physical theatre share the bill with rooted, traditional movement. Small black-box shows sit alongside bigger productions, so you get both experimental pieces that push boundaries and performances steeped in local cultural narratives.
- Street performances and pop-up happenings — part planned, part serendipity. Performers take over plazas, corners and sidewalks: buskers,
- Eclectic live music programme — HIFA’s heartbeat. You’ll hear everything from traditional mbira and chimurenga to stripped-back acoustic sets, jazz and unexpected cross-cultural collaborations on intimate stages and open-air tents. It’s the place to catch raw, unrepeatable jams and late-night sets where local and visiting musicians swap ideas on the fly. (Personal favorite)
- Theatre and contemporary dance — bold storytelling and physical theatre share the bill with rooted, traditional movement. Small black-box shows sit alongside bigger productions, so you get both experimental pieces that push boundaries and performances steeped in local cultural narratives.
- Street performances and pop-up happenings — part planned, part serendipity. Performers take over plazas, corners and sidewalks: buskers, clowning, site-specific theatre and surprise ensembles that make wandering Harare during the festival feel alive and a little magical. Great for stumbling into something you didn’t know you needed.
- Visual arts, galleries and artisan markets — exhibitions, pop-up galleries and stalls selling textiles, beadwork, paintings and sculpture. You can watch artists at work, find one-of-a-kind souvenirs, and see contemporary Zimbabwean visual art conversations that don’t always make it into tourist brochures.
- Workshops, talks and artist interactions — hands-on sessions, panel discussions and masterclasses run throughout the festival. They’re where you move beyond spectator mode: learn a rhythm, pick up a local craft technique, or sit in on a frank conversation with creators about art and community.
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Best Backpacking
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Hi, I’m Johan (Netherlands 🇳🇱), the creator of TakeYourBackpack. Over the past decade, I’ve backpacked through 80+ countries across six continents, gaining extensive experience with independent travel, long-term trips, and overland routes.