adminEmmanuel Ndlovu
KWABATSHA dance group will today shoot a video of their new dance project, Sigxobunyawo, which was produced last month in collaboration with Ingwenyama arts and Ziyawa performing arts. Shooting will be done around Bulawayo in places such as Mzilikazi High Cultural Village, Amakhosi Cultural Centre and the main shot will be at the Bulawayo Theatre.
Some of the scenes will capture the Entumbane bushy area and Mpopoma railway line. These would be for the group’s gumboot dance.
Kwabatsha director, Trust Madosky Gumpo said the video will act as a cultural artifact for marketing the City of Kings to the outside world.
“Sigxobunyawo is more than just a dance because it carries a strong educative message on the importance and role played by dance in the African society. It also narrates how these dance moves were passed from one generation to another, while portraying the wide gap that has been left, due to their differences with contemporary dances.
“The video shoot will go a long way in marketing the city of Bulawayo to the outside world, as it will capture most cultural sites that portray our lifestyle as indigenous people,” Gumbo Said.
The production which appears to be one of the group’s biggest projects so far, attracted about 35 artistes from other local traditional dance ensembles.
Kwabatsha is a traditional dance outfit that is based at Mzilikazi Youth Centre. Last year, the group exhibited its artistic flexibility when it released a musical hit titled Bhatshi.
Local music lovers mistakenly thought the hit Bhatshi was a South African song. Early this year, the versatile dance group went on to drop a full album.
Online Reporter