Online Reporter
Trust Khosa
Zimpapers Arts, Entertainment Hub
Renowned theatre producer and director Nkululeko Dube captivated arts regulatory leaders at the private premiere of a 40-minute cultural performance, set to be showcased on July 16 at Expo 2025 Osaka in Japan.
The premiere took place recently at the 7 Arts Theatre in Avondale, Harare.
Co-produced with seasoned traditional dance instructor Gibson Sarari, a 12-member ensemble selected countrywide will show a musical titled, “The Great Zimbabwe,” highlighting the richness of Zimbabwean culture.
Their performance coincides with Zimbabwe’s National Day celebrations, ensuring that all eyes are on the country during the global exposition. Dube and Sarari, who have worked diligently to scout talent in a short timeframe, are proud of their dancers, who are ready to represent Zimbabwe with honour.
In an interview with Zimpapers Arts and Entertainment Hub, Dube believes that due diligence was done to ensure Zimbabwe leaves a mark in Japan. “Usually, it takes a month or so to create a musical of this magnitude, but we only took about two weeks to assemble this group of 12 talented dancers and actors.
“It’s a production where we combined theatre, music, and the spoken word to create a piece that depicts the true story of Zimbabwe.
“I am glad that we have managed to capture all the country’s popular dances, including Mhande, amabhiza, Jerusarema, isithikitsha, muchongoyo, and mbakumba, among other indigenous dances,” he stressed.
“The purpose of this event (private premiere) was to give our stakeholders a glimpse of what to expect in this musical, as well as to make suggestions for improvements. We are taking all the comments and recommendations made here during this event very seriously.” He also commended the cast for their dedication, as well as the production team. “A lot of effort was put together here, and we are grateful to be at this point. I hope we will do our best with all the recommendations made here,” he added.
Dube’s counterpart, Sarari, who has been in the industry for years, was blown away by the group’s talent ahead of Expo 2025 Osaka, which has garnered global attention.
“I thoroughly enjoy such initiatives, and I am confident we are going to leave a lasting impression in Japan. This is what we have been longing for, and I am glad that the cast is in high spirits.
“Creating a 40-minute musical is not easy, as some expos usually require performances of 10-20 minutes or less,” asserted Sarari.
“With only a few days left, we are going to polish up areas that need correction.”
Sarari urged the cast to remain focused ahead of the expo, which has attracted global attention.
National Arts Council of Zimbabwe (NACZ) chief executive Napoleon Nyanhi, expressed confidence in its ability to reflect Zimbabwe’s collective identity — past, present and future.
“This production is a musical and theatrical journey through Zimbabwe’s rich cultural heritage,” he said.
