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LOCAL cultures are set to be celebrated at the much-anticipated Bira Rembira Festival on Saturday.
Event organisers say artistes have been deliberately selected from various provinces across Zimbabwe in the spirit of inclusivity.
Festival manager Benjamin Nyandoro told The Sunday Mail Entertainment that the mbira instrument — celebrated throughout September — serves as a unifying symbol, bringing diverse cultures together under one roof.
“Some of the acts may be based in or popular around Harare, but they actually represent different provinces. We have performers from Mashonaland West, East and Central, as well as Manicaland, Midlands, Masvingo and Matabeleland,” said Nyandoro.
Recently, a group of mbira-playing children from the Ngoma Yepasichigare Cultural Centre in Mhondoro, Mashonaland West province, embarked on a mission to spread mbira music across the country.
Their initiative is aimed at preserving cultural heritage and educating communities about this traditional art form.
Mbira music is one of the most authentic and widely celebrated genres in Zimbabwean culture.
The Mhondoro group, composed mostly of children under 15, captivated audiences in Hwange, Matabeleland North province, during a performance at the Lanyula Cultural Centre in Lubangwe.
The local Nambya and Tonga communities, including village heads and elders, were enchanted by the children’s mastery of the mbira and their vocal performances.
“These events complement each other. Just as the annual national traditional dance competition brings together dance groups, the Bira Rembira Festival celebrates our diverse culture. The underlying theme in all we do is the mbira instrument,” Nyandoro explained.
Traditional music groups, especially those focused on mbira, have been fully booked throughout September due to the Mbira Month theme.
The month-long celebrations will culminate in the annual Bira Rembira Festival on September 27 at Heritage Village in Harare.
The mbira is of deep cultural significance in Africa, with a rich history that has endured through generations.
It is considered a sacred tool for connecting with ancestors and is also viewed as a vital part of Zimbabwe’s heritage.
Mbira music continues to captivate global audiences.
Some pilgrims even travel to Zimbabwe to learn more about this cultural treasure.
In 2020, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) declared the instrument an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
This recognition sparked renewed global appreciation for its educational and cultural value.
The inaugural Bira Rembira Festival was held last year at Gwanzura Stadium.
The event was so successful that September was officially designated Mbira Month, celebrated annually in Zimbabwe.
This year’s mega celebration at Heritage Village will run under the theme “Our Identity, Our Pride — Engraving Our Culture and Heritage Through Generations”.
“This year’s edition will be a hybrid of indoor and outdoor activities that feature exhibitions of our cultures and heritage, including traditional food, games, cultural practices, mbira making and playing, other traditional instruments and the national fabric,” said the festival manager.
Mbira and traditional music groups that will perform include renowned artistes such as Samaita neMbira DzeNharira, Nyamasvisva Nemaungira eNharira, Jah Prayzah, Feli Nandi, Mangwenya, Kurai Makore, Andy Muridzo, Jah Lemmy, Magodora, Sasha Madhuve, Vee Mhofu, Gushungo, Duramazwi, Sarungano, Sir Lino Piloto, Lioness Shumbakadzi, Nzombehuru, Taffie Matiure, Pauline Gundidza, Jah Lenny and Nina X.
A mbira ensemble from Malawi will also participate. Music groups from primary and secondary schools have been commissioned to compose and record the 2025 Bira Rembira theme song, which will be released and performed at the festival.
“The theme song weaves together musical instruments — not limited to mbira, but also marimba, ngoma, hosho and vocals — all crafted under the festival theme.
The song will be recorded at the Zimbabwe College of Music.
Tinaye Agere