Chibuku Neshamwari finals preps advanced

Showbiz Reporter
Preparations for this year’s Chibuku Neshamwari Traditional dance festival finals are at an advanced stage with 10 groups preparing to battle it out for the grand prize of $4,000.
The 10 provincial champions drawn from across the country will showcase their diverse talents at the national finals taking place at the Harare Gardens on August 23. A cash prize of $3,000 has been set aside for the group which will take second position while the group which will take third position will walk away with $2,000.

Bulawayo will be represented at the competitions by Sekunjalo MaAfrica who will be performing the Umzansi Dance. It remains to be seen if Sekunjalo will follow in the footsteps of Umkhathi Theatre Works who won the competition last year.

Mashonaland West winners, Nengoma Cultural Arts groups will be representing their home province with a rendition of the dinhe dance while Mashonaland Central winners, Swerengoma will be dancing the mbende jerusarema. Mashonaland East winners Ngoma Dzepasi will also be performing the mbende.

Harare Province winners Chitukuko Nyau and Midlands winners, Zikuvave will provide entertainment with the Zambia Gure, which has previously dominated the competitions due to its colourful costumes and captivating choreography. Masvingo winners Musa Prison will be dancing the bira dance while Manicaland’s Redwing the Group will do the beni dance.

Rounding up the list of performances are Matabeleland winners, Simunye Arts from the north and Chimtali How Mine from the south who will respectively be dancing to chinyambera and chimtali.

Delta Beverages marketing executive, Stanley Muchenje said the festival, which turns 51 this year was one of the longest running arts sponsorships programmes in the country.

“Launched in 1963, the Chibuku Neshamwari franchise is the single longest running arts sponsorship of its size and reach in the country.

“The journey to the Chibuku Neshamwari finals has, for most of the groups, been a hard fought battle. While traditionally the nyau dances have proved to be popular with the crowds, and have crowned many past winners, this year may just see surprises emerge,” Muchenje said.

He added that the Chibuku Neshamwari Traditional Dance festival was a tripartite programme, organised by the Zimbabwe National Traditional Dance Association, the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe and sponsored by Delta Beverages through their Chibuku brand.