Published by the government of Zimbabwe
Francis Rwodzi
1 June 2009
Harare — A PICTURE is worth a thousand words, so goes an old saying. However, it remains to be seen whether Zimbabwean Afro-jazz music diva Prudence Katomeni-Mbofana will be able to match the tally as she performs at the International Committee of the Red Cross photo exhibition to be held today.
The Afro-jazz queen is set to perform a rendition of a special theme song for the Red Cross on the occasion of their anniversary celebrations, which will be done through a photo exhibition at a ceremony expected to be officially opened by Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai at the National Art Gallery.
The decorated musician, who would be backed by her band Jazz Invitation, is expected to lighten up the atmosphere that will engulf the gallery, as sombre war images will be showcased at the exhibition.
The exhibition will see the public view 48 images taken by leading war photographers and capture the strength, pain and humanity of people who have suffered the consequences of armed conflict or internal violence.
Pictures at the exhibition will include images from countries such as Afghanistan, Colombia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Georgia, Haiti, Lebanon, Liberia and the Phillipines.
It is the performance by Katomeni that is set to ignite the occasion when she belts out a rendition of the theme song that is expected to capture the suffering of people on the images.
The photo exhibition is part of Red Cross and Red Crescent worldwide celebrations marking the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Solferino at which Henry Dunant, one of the founders, conceived the idea of the movement.
The Red Cross will also use the occasion to commemorate the 90th anniversary of the creation of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent societies.
A special ceremony to mark the anniversary celebrations was held in Paris, France, on May 4, while a photo exhibition opened in Geneva, Switzerland, on May 8 under the theme "Our World at War, ICRC Photo Exhibit".
A book has since been published and launched in Geneva which traces the history of war and its humanitarian consequences through more than 200 striking images from ICRC archives.
For Zimbabwe and as part of this worldwide campaign, the ICRC, IFRC and the Zimbabwe Red Cross will host the photo exhibition under two broad themes, "Humanity in War and Our World at War".
The exhibition will open at 11am and the public is invited to view the exhibitions at no cost for the entire duration of the display.
However, all ears will be out to listen to one of Zimbabwe's evergreen performers, Katomeni, who is set to rock viewers at the occasion, a thing she knows best judging from history.
The official opening of the photo exhibition will be preceded by a cocktail, which will close the opening ceremony.
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