dyton mupawaenda
Mathew Masinge
MUFAKOSE-BASED based group, Culture Warriors, will represent Harare at this year’s edition of the Chibuku Neshamwari Traditional Dance Festival.
The group, which showcased the dinhe dance, booked its place during provincial finals held at Padziva Camp and Caravan in Dzivaresekwa at the weekend.
The Culture Warriors pocketed US$2 500.
Shingai Dance Troupe (Mufakose) and Villa Kutinyu Nyau Club (Dzivaresekwa) were the first and second runners-up.
Culture Warriors return to the national finals after falling short in the battle for the grand prize in 2017.
“We have done our homework and want to claim the top prize, the whole team is ready and we promise to win it for Harare.
“This should be our year and we are promising to win the competition at national level,” said the group.
The 15-member group has been in existence for a long time in Mufakose and has been instrumental in preserving the dinhe danc,e among other cultural practices, in the high-density suburb.
The Chibuku Neshamwari Traditional Dance national finals are slated for Mucheke, Masvingo, on July 27.
Other groups, which have made it to the finals, include Nyaungwe Dance Group (Mash-East), Bolamba (Mat-South), Pezhuba Pachema (Mat-North), Dzimbahwe Nengoma (Mash-Central), Gango (Masvingo) and Mkango Malawi Nyau (Midlands).
Only Manicaland, Mashonaland West and Bulawayo are left to register a representative for the national finals.
Organisers have included a US$15 000 cash prize for the national winner.
The competition is held annually by Delta Beverages, in partnership with the Zimbabwe National Traditional Dancers Association (ZNTDA), and the National Arts Councils of Zimbabwe (NAC).
Online Reporter