Celebrating the life of George Silundika: All set for TiBaKalanga Festival

Preparations are well underway for the fifth edition of the TiBaKalanga Festival, which will commence tomorrow and conclude on Sunday, commemorating the life of the late national hero, George Silundika.

The festival pays tribute to George Silundika, a stalwart of the liberation struggle, who advocated for unity among liberation movements to expedite the defeat of colonialism.Unfortunately, Cde Silundika passed away just a year after Zimbabwe gained independence on April 9, 1981, succumbing to a stroke while serving as a Cabinet Minister. A member of Zapu’s Central Committee, he was laid to rest at the National Heroes Acre.

The festival will take place at the TG Silundika Cultural Community Centre in Gala, Bulilima District, Matabeleland South. Once the homestead of the late Tarcissius Malan George Silundika, the centre now serves as a venue for community initiatives.
One of the festival organisers, Cde Silundika’s son, Felix, described his father as a dedicated revolutionary, who devoted his life to Zimbabwe’s liberation struggle.

“We view him as a dedicated revolutionary, who sacrificed his entire adult life to the struggle for independence. He, along with many of his peers, belongs to a special cadre of heroes whose sacrifices should never be forgotten.“As a Foundation, we organise community development initiatives to promote the values my father held dearly, such as empowerment, education, fitness and good health,” he stated.

“The TiBaKalanga Cultural Festival was established in 2017 following a two-day International Cultural Marketing Workshop attended by 300 villagers from Ward 6 and the Bulilima Rural District Council members. Facilitated by renowned American Anthropologist, Prof Gordon Bronitsky, the workshop took place at the late TG Silundika’s homestead and was organised in partnership with Lupane State University’s Humanities Department. This workshop culminated in the adoption of the TiBaKalanga Festival.

“The festival’s founders are the villagers, who also benefit from the annual event. The main objectives include promoting Kalanga cultural heritage and fostering social cohesion in our communities,” Felix explained.Felix affirmed that everything is in place to host the event and celebrate the legacy of a legend. He detailed the line-up of activities for the two-day event.

“Day one features the annual 10k run, the Seniors’ Walk, a half-kilometre race for under 12s, a football match for under 10s, various workshops, including ‘Networking for Jobs’ in the Persian Gulf countries, entertainment and a showcase of traditional Kalanga cuisine.

“Day two will mainly focus on the Miss TiBaKalanga Beauty Pageant, where 20 young ladies from various villages and two high schools will compete for the coveted title of Queen of TiBaKalanga. These girls were finalists in primary contests held in their respective villages and schools,” Felix concluded. – Follow —@mthabisi_mthire for updates.