Online Reporter
Mthabisi Tshuma, [email protected]
In the tourism city of Victoria Falls, renowned for housing one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, a group of determined women is making history on the cultural stage.
Against the odds in a largely male-dominated sector, the Amakhosikazi Cultural Ensemble has emerged as Matabeleland North’s newest cultural powerhouse after clinching the Chibuku Neshamwari Traditional Dance Festival provincial title with a captivating Isitshikitsha performance on June 13 at New Tavern Beer Hall in Victoria Falls.
Their polished display saw them finish ahead of Gule Wamkulu Hwange and Amafolosi Amahle, who came second and third respectively.
The victory has secured Amakhosikazi a place at the national finals, where they will compete against the country’s finest traditional dance groups for the coveted national title and the US$15 000 grand prize.
For the women behind the ensemble, the triumph is more than just a competition win, it is the culmination of five years of perseverance, sacrifice and belief.
Founded in May 2020, Amakhosikazi was born out of a shared vision among female artistes from different backgrounds who wanted to create opportunities for women in the arts while promoting Zimbabwean cultural heritage.
The group comprises 15 members — 14 women and one man, their manager, Kholwani Tshuma. The members are Egnes Khondowe, Lensiska Chizema, Sibonginkosi Tshabalala, Chipo Meso, Elginia Mutengwa, Charlotte Mutengwa, Emariah Watson, Rebecca Muli, Magret Mabhena, Teressa Tshuma, Letricia Walter, Abigirl Tshabalala, Christine Sibanda and Mirriam T Banda.
Group director Chizema said the provincial title was particularly satisfying after years of near misses in the competition.
“The journey in this competition has not been easy. Since 2020, we’ve been participating and managed to finish in the top three several times, coming second twice and third once. Those results motivated us to keep pushing and fighting for first place.
“We never looked down upon ourselves as women. We remained focused, worked hard and believed that one day, our efforts would pay off,” said Chizema.
She said balancing family responsibilities with rehearsals and competition commitments proved to be one of the group’s biggest challenges.
“The toughest part was balancing household duties as women while preparing for competitions and competing against male-dominated groups. However, our manager’s encouragement, guidance and skills helped us remain focused and ultimately achieve this success.”
The victory sparked jubilant celebrations among the performers, who felt their years of dedication had finally been rewarded.
“We feel proud and recognised. This achievement proves that hard work and focus bring results. We celebrated because we knew a new journey had begun. Our thorough preparations gave us confidence, while our energy on stage, creative use of space, originality and well-choreographed routines set us apart from the competition,” she said.
For Amakhosikazi, the journey extends beyond competition success. The ensemble was established to address the lack of opportunities available to women in the cultural sector.
“The group was founded by five women who recognised a gap in the arts industry. There are many talented women, but they often lack exposure and opportunities. We wanted to challenge the notion that traditional dance is dominated by men.
“Our vision is to identify and nurture talented girls from grassroots communities and help them reach professional and international standards.”
The group’s mission is equally ambitious.
“We want to become a leading cultural music and dance outfit that promotes Zimbabwean culture, heritage and historical values while creating sustainable livelihoods through the arts.”
According to Chizema, unity has been one of the group’s greatest strengths.
“What keeps us together is mutual respect, humility and understanding that a divided house cannot stand. We support each other and share common values.”
Now, with the provincial crown secured, Amakhosikazi has set its sights on an even bigger prize, ending Matabeleland North’s long wait for national glory.
“Our target is to bring a positive result at the national finals. It has been almost 17 years since a group from Matabeleland North achieved significant success at the national level. We want to break that spell and bring pride back to our province.”
The ensemble is already intensifying preparations ahead of the national showdown.
“We want to improve every aspect of our performance. We’re reviewing our weaknesses, conducting more research on our dance style and polishing our production. We also plan to engage experienced arts directors to help strengthen our choreography and overall presentation.”
Chizema believes community support will be crucial as they prepare to carry the hopes of the entire province.
“We need support from everyone – advice, guidance, access to proper rehearsal spaces and assistance from arts practitioners who can help us improve. We’re no longer representing just our group; we’re representing Matabeleland North as a whole.”
