adminFor many, when we say culture week, the one or two things that come to mind are traditional dance and maybe food.
But what is culture? Ita��s the ideas, customs, and social behaviour of a particular people or society. Well, at least thata��s the simplistic definition of what culture is. I will have you know that up until the late 90a��s anthropologists have not come up with one definition of what culture is, in actual fact there are 164 different definitions to what it is.
Anyway this is not a scholastic column. Zimbabwe celebrates Culture Week fromA� 20 to 26 May.
The arts governing body who are the main organisers of the event are hosting events in all 10 provinces of the country. This yeara��s celebrations will run under the theme a�?Consolidating Cultural Identity, Diversity and Heritagea�? with other provinces also set to exhibit their rich cultural diversity in a bid to find common ground with other cultures all over Zimbabwe.
The national launch of this yeara��s Culture Week commemorations will be held on May 20 in Mashonaland Central at Nyava High School in Musana (Bindura Rural). So for the week, the school will host different kinds of exhibitions.
Having been lucky to travel, I noticed how Black History month is celebrated in the UK. Ita��s a Carnival atmosphere, there is music, dance, food, fashion and various exhibitions.
How did Culture Week come to being? The World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development is a United Nations sanctioned international holiday for the promotion of diversity issues. It is currently held on May 21.
The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed this holiday due to Unesco a�?s Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity in November 2001. It was proclaimed by UN Resolution 57/ 249.
Diversity Day, is an opportunity to help communities understand the value of cultural diversity and learn how to live together in harmony. This day was created as a result of the destruction of the Buddha statues of Bamiyan in Afghanistan in 2001.
Why I think this should be a Christmas for us. We are a cosmopolitan city, with different people and different cultures. Imagine a week-long celebration putting all of us together and appreciating our differences. Picture this, large City Hall Car Park food exhibition, with our Indian brothers, Shonas, Whites, Ndebeles and Chinese folk.
You see how we end up fighting during football matches? Well, thata��s called cultural tolerance. I applaud National Arts Council for making this supposed to be a one-day celebration a week-long celebration.
To mark this week, we have a few events happening in the city. NAC Bulawayo Office will host their celebrations at Inyathi Youth Centre in Mpopoma. The show case will feature Band With No Name, Umkhathi Theatre, Rainbow Blaze and Kaisa Dance Company among a host of other groups on 22 May.
On the 25th Kaisa and Mema Arts present another top show happening at Salukazi Centre featuring Iyasa, Khuliyo, Ramsey K, Nobuntu, Sungura Masters and Kadder to name a few.
Another event happening on the 25th is The Soul Cookout which will feature famed DJ Pasee of the popular Skyz Metro FM show The Soul Affair and soul music sensation Prayersoul who is based in Harare. The event also features top DJ Mellow T. The event will be held at The Water front.
So as we celebrate our culture, whether ita��s culture by birth, descent or assumed. Leta��s learn tolerance, we are stronger together, this is who we are.
Until next week, be safe . . . @nkuenkala . .
Online Reporter