Online Reporter
Mthabisi Tshuma, Zimpapers Arts and Entertainment Hub
THE stage is set, the drums are calling, and Mutare is ready to burst with cultural energy as the Chibuku Neshamwari Traditional Dance Festival provincial finals arrive at Muchina Muhombe Bar this Saturday, for the Manicaland showdown.
Performances will span a vibrant spectrum of traditional styles — from Mbende Jerusarema to Muchongoyo, Zhana and Beni Arinote. Ten traditional dance groups will battle it out for a coveted place in the national finals.
The participating groups in the Manicaland leg included Semvumba Arts Ensemble (Dinhe), Mansa Mutare Remand (Jerusarema Mbende), Chenhaka Dance Academy (Chinyambera), Mbiriyakare (Mangoni), Watyemhembwe (Jaka), Maungwe (Zhana), Makoni (Zhana), Chivaraidze Chipinge Prisons (Muchongoyo), Charurwa (Muchongoyo) and Redwing Beni Arinote (Beni Arinote).
Following this, the festival will continue its national tour with upcoming finals scheduled for Hwange (Matabeleland North) and Banket (Mashonaland West) on May 31; Chiredzi (Masvingo) on June 7; Mutoko (Mashonaland East) and Beitbridge (Matabeleland South) on June 14; Mabvuku, Harare on June 21; Bulawayo (Manor Hotel) on June 28; and Shamva (Mashonaland Central) on July 5.
Under the theme “Ngoma Ngairire Shamwari, Tshay’Isigubhu Mngane”, the 2025 edition of the festival seeks to unite Zimbabweans through the timeless language of dance and drumming.
For over 60 years, the festival — hosted in partnership with the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe and the Zimbabwe National Traditional Dance Association — has stood as a beacon of traditional arts, breathing new life into indigenous dance forms and empowering local communities.
With monetary prizes at stake, the competition is expected to be fierce, as each ensemble brings its finest moves, rhythms and costumes to the stage.
Last year, Nyaungwe Arts Ensemble from Mashonaland East stole the spotlight with a breathtaking performance of the Mbende dance, clinching the national title at Mucheke Stadium in Masvingo.
Their choreography, precision and cultural authenticity set a high bar — and this year, expectations are even higher. —@mthabisi_mthire
