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Tariro Musekiwa
AN all-girls dance group, Ngoma yeKwedu, is making a splash by empowering vulnerable girls in different communities.
The group consists of 17 young girls who are passionate about traditional dance and music.
Ngoma yeKwedu is a product of Tariro Trust psychosocial programming.
Tariro Trust is a community-based organisation working in Harare’s high-density suburbs.
The trust pays school fees for, at least, 70 girls each year, provides uniforms, school supplies and sanitary requirements and helps them develop their musical talents.
The trust offers dance lessons and rehearsals every Saturday.
Daniel Inasiyo, the group’s dance instructor, said that the girls have a zeal that can make them go far and become a big and successful outfit.
“The group has performed at different corporate functions, such as the CBZ Marathon, for many years, the Harare Agricultural Show, the Women in Stem conference and at weddings.
“Ngoma yeKwedu has the potential to become one of the best in the music and dance industry,” he said.
The girls’ group is working on a mbira album where they are partnering seasoned women mbira players.
“The album is part of a project coordinated by professor Jennifer Kyker, the founder of Tariro Trust, who is also a music professor at the University of Rochester in the USA.
“The production of the album is part of the Mhare dzeNhare, where renowned mbira players like Irene Chigamba and Tendai Mavengeni taught the Ngoma yeKwedu girls to play mbira dzavadzimu.”
Tariro Trust part-time coordinator, Simbarashe Kanyimo, said the group was quite a dedicated outfit.
“Tariro’s traditional music dance programme has been a pillar of our programming for over a decade and in 2023 Ngoma yeKwedu won the national NIAA school marimba competition.”
Online Reporter