Online Reporter
Langalakhe Mabena [email protected]
BULAWAYO is expected to come alive tomorrow as thousands of people converge on the city for a vibrant cultural procession marking the start of the main King Mzilikazi Day commemorations before proceeding to eMhlahlandlela in Matobo for the flagship event.
The parade will begin at Matshobana at 7am and make its way through the city’s streets before concluding at the Large City Hall car park, where participants will board transport to eMhlahlandlela, near the Entumbane caves, the final resting place of King Mzilikazi.
The colourful procession is set to transform Bulawayo into a showcase of culture and heritage, with participants clad in traditional attire and entertaining spectators through song, dance and praise poetry. Amatshitshi, Abafana and Amabutho are expected to lead the march.
Along the route, participants will pass some of Bulawayo’s most iconic landmarks, including the statue of the late Vice-President Dr Joshua Mqabuko Nyongolo Nkomo, before gathering at the Large City Hall. From there, they will travel to eMhlahlandlela, where the main commemorations will honour the life, legacy and nation-building role of King Mzilikazi, the founder of the Ndebele nation.
Organisers are anticipating a larger turnout than last year, when more than 12 000 people attended the commemorations.
Mthwakazi kaMzilikazi Cultural Association (MMCA) media and publicity official Bigboy George Sibanda said the commemorations are not solely about Ndebele culture but celebrate the diverse communities that contributed to the formation of the nation.
“King Mzilikazi was a unifier, and this year, we’re riding on that unifying spirit, as we call on people from different nations and all over Zimbabwe to come in their numbers to celebrate our pride and culture,” said Sibanda.
He encouraged people from all backgrounds to join the celebrations dressed in their traditional attire.
“King Mzilikazi was accommodative; therefore, we call upon everyone from different walks of life, be it Venda, Tonga, Tswana, Kalanga, Ndau, Tsonga, Shona or Ndebele, to come dressed in their traditional attire because this celebration is for everyone,” he said.
The main ceremony at eMhlahlandlela is expected to attract delegations from other African countries and royal houses, as well as Government officials, traditional leaders, Bulawayo civic leaders, cultural enthusiasts, tourists and members of the Zimbabwean diaspora.
This year’s commemorations have also drawn high-profile guests from Zimbabwe and South Africa, adding a regional flavour to the event. Among the headline attractions is South African Maskandi star Khuzani Mpungose, popularly known as Khuba. Award-winning actors Dawn Thandeka King and Mpilo Mbatha, who portrayed Mkabayi and Mzilikazi respectively in the popular Mzansi Magic drama series Shaka iLembe, are also expected to attend.
Their participation comes amid renewed interest across the region in the history of the Zulu and Ndebele kingdoms, fuelled by the success of the television series.
Once the official proceedings conclude, attention will shift to entertainment, with a Maskandi festival headlined by Khuzani at a local leisure venue. The South African musician is expected to provide a fitting finale to a day dedicated to celebrating King Mzilikazi’s enduring legacy and cultural influence.
He will be supported by several local Maskandi artistes, including Zinjaziyamluma, Umfoka Jele, Jamela, Inkunzi yeBraman, Black Umfolosi, Bhila, uGagisa, Umfanomsuthu, Mr Gold Tshuma and Mongameli WamaBhinca, among others.
Meanwhile, the commemorations begin today at eMhlahlandlela with a youth programme expected to attract hundreds of pupils from schools in Matabeleland North, Matabeleland South and Bulawayo.
Introduced last year following a successful inaugural edition, the programme seeks to deepen young people’s understanding of history while fostering appreciation for the cultures and traditions that shaped the Ndebele nation. Learners will be exposed to the various communities that contributed to the nation, including Venda, Sotho, Kalanga and Nambya cultures.
Traditional music, dance, food, dress and cultural practices will form part of the programme, which is also designed to complement the Heritage-Based Curriculum.
“Children will learn about the different cultures that make up the Ndebele nation. We will host schools from different regions, including those from Venda, Sotho, Kalanga and Nambya communities, to mention a few. They will also be taught how to identify cultural tools and prepare traditional food,” said Sibanda.
MMCA organising committee member Crescentia Ngwenya said the initiative would also provide an opportunity to engage young girls on issues such as peer pressure, early sexual activity, personal conduct and the preservation of cultural values.
“We want to take these children off the streets, especially girls. Due to peer pressure and other forces, young girls end up losing their virginity in an undignified manner. Some even get into worse situations as they fall pregnant at a very young age,” said Ngwenya.
She said the programme would further address the health risks associated with early sexual activity, including sexually transmitted infections and HIV/Aids.
