#ZIMBOJAM5 Zimbo Jam turns five today, November 4, 2013. In the five years of its existence, Zimbo Jam photographers have taken over a hundred thousand pictures, documenting the lifestyle arts and culture story of Zimbabwe in a way that has not been done before. Ever.
I talk about the photos, because this is one of the areas where we have made the biggest difference in arts & culture reporting in Zimbabwe. We have given the world tonnes of visual evidence that Zimbabwe is alive and kicking, creative and rising. We have saved moments of magic for our grandchildren to see that we knew how to rise to the occasion when called upon, and how to get down when the beat was heavy.
Zimbo Jam covers the small events and the big ones, the talented upstarts and the iconic legends. From fashion to fine art, from music to theatre to film, Zimbo Jam has covered it all in an endeavour to show the world that there was more to Zimbabwe than the grim political tales that make international headlines so often.
Our journey to document and tell the story of Zimbabwean arts has taken us to different parts of the country and all over the world. We have interacted with the poorest people and met with some of the most powerful personalities in the world of business, the arts and politics.
Despite a small team, and a budget that’s 99% heart and 1% financing, we have managed to turn up again and again and again – because for us, you have to be there to tell the story; you have to be present to cheer your team on.
And our team is the Zimbabwean who gets up every morning and pushes against mind-numbing odds to make a creative difference. For as long as that Zimbabwean exists we aim to be there to cheer her or him on.
Thank you to everyone who has supported the vision, and who continues to do so. To the artists, the fans, the readers and the amazing young people who have been part of the Zimbo Jam crew at one point or another during the last five years.
Thank you.
Fungai Tichawangana
Founding Editor – Zimbo Jam
