Matabeleland South holds belated Culture Month celebrations

Mthabisi Tshuma, Showbiz Reporter
The richness of the cultural diversity in Matabeleland South province is set to be fully explored today during the belated Culture Month provincial launch.

The rainbow province as Matabeleland South province is mostly referred to, will host the belated celebrations at the Gwanda Cultural Centre at Ultra High Business Centre today.

The celebrations will feature performances from various creatives, Mjabulisi Dlamini, Khoi Khoi, Kadder, Bolamba Dance Group, Jovis Jovara, Blanket Mine Ben Arinot, Blanket Mine Chidda, Zezani High School traditional dance group, Vumbachikwe Sounds, Sabiwa Primary School dance group and Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo Polytechnic Marimba band.

The event is expected to kick off at 9am with Ndebele, Sotho, Venda, Kalanga and Xhosa-speaking people all set to showcase their diverse cultures.

National Arts Council of Zimbabwe (NACZ) Matabeleland South provincial arts manager Percy Vela said everything is in place for the event.

“The artistes are eager to perform and we’re happy that with the expansion of the Culture Week to Culture Month, we’ve received immense support from the Ministry of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation; the Municipality of Gwanda and the business community who have greatly supported the event,” said Vela.

He said cultures found in the province will be given the spotlight.

“Attendees should gear up for exhibitions, various performances, and displays of cultural foods.

“We’ve also decorated cultural Roundavels which are a signifier of the various cultures that are found within the province,” said Vela.

This year, things changed for the better as Zimbabwe expanded Culture Week into a reconstituted Culture Month to accommodate cultural activities that had been taking place for over a week in the month of May.

Since the Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity by Unesco in 2001 when May 21 was declared as the World Day of Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development, Culture Week has been held during that week.

— @mthabisi_mthire