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THE national Culture Week celebrations will be launched today at the Amphitheatre in Bulawayo.
During the week, the country will be celebrating the importance of cultural diversity through different cultural activities.
A street march will be held from Hebert Chitepo and Leopold Takawira to the Amphitheatre.
Sport, Arts and Culture Minister, Andrew Langa, is expected to officially open the event.
The celebrations, being held under the theme, “Promoting Cultural Diversity and Inclusion”, will end on May 24.
A number of groups and poets have been lined up to perform at the opening ceremony including Hloseni Arts Ensemble, Inkululekho Yabatsha School of Arts (Iyasa), Umkhathi Theatre Works, Impumelelo Shining Stars, Thandanani Arts Ensemble, King George VI, 2013 Jikinya Dance Festival Champions Nyandoro Primary School from Mashonaland Central province, Nengoma Battlefields from Midlands, Sithandazile Dube (Poet), Obert Dube (Poet), and Iluba Lomvelo.
Meanwhile, Chief Vezi Maduna, the host of this year’s Matabeleland South Provincial Culture Week launch, yesterday said he was impressed with the progress that had been made by his community in preparing for the event.
The launch, set for next Friday, will be held at UGodlwayo Cultural Centre in Avoca, Insiza District.
Chief Wasi is expected to be the guest of honour while the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs, Abedinico Ncube, is also expected to grace the occasion among other dignitaries.
Chronicle visited the Cultural Centre on Wednesday and found excited community members from various wards making final touches to the facilities.
Communities have set up the chiefs hut, amaxhiba (huts for boys and girls), a kitchen, isiphala (granary), isibaya (kraal), toilets, a hall, a stage and a library where some traditional artifacts would be displayed.
“I would like to express my gratitude to the Godlwayo community. Progress made shows that we are a united people and I am confident that the spirit of unity will continue among the communities,” said Chief Maduna.
“All the chiefs from the province will grace the occasion and we are expecting more than 6,000 people.
“The event will be a platform for people to get to know about our traditional culture through food, dances, music, pottery and other artifacts. It will be a mirror of who we are,” he added.
Online Reporter