Online Reporter
Mthabisi Tshuma, [email protected]
Over 30 schools from across Beitbridge District and a youthful lineup of 15 artistes are expected to perform at the inaugural Tshitaudze Heritage Festival, a clear sign that the festival is being built to last with future generations at the forefront.
The event is set for September 25 to 27 at the Tshitaudze Culture Village in Mpande area, Ward 12, Gwanda–Tshitaudze Constituency, Beitbridge District. It has been positioned as a premier platform to showcase the rich cultural diversity of the Beitbridge community, bringing together Venda, Sotho, Shangani and other groups who live under Chief Tshitaudze’s area.
Designed to celebrate and preserve cultural heritage while promoting creativity, community unity and economic development through the arts, the three-day festival will give local artistes and creatives space to showcase talent across dance, poetry, storytelling, traditional games, fashion exhibitions and cook-out competitions. Organisers say the goal is to remind young people where they come from while creating real opportunities in the creative economy.
Planned activities include a local designers’ showcase, market stalls for direct sales, and training sessions covering performing and visual arts, costume design and event production. There will also be awards recognising outstanding creative talent from the district and beyond.
Tshitaudze Heritage Festival director of entertainment Dickens Sipho Mathe, also known as Vho-Mathe, said the involvement of schools is deliberate.
“We are expecting several secondary schools which include Vhembe, St Joseph’s, Matshiloni, Chamnanga, Tongwe, Malala, Siyoka, Zezani, Chamnangana, Malikuwa, Swereki, Masera, Shashi and Lutumba,” he said.
He added that at least two primary schools from under Headman Siyoka, Foromela, Kohomela, Mabidi, Mazibeli, Makhado, Mahopolo and Chief Tshitaudze are also expected to participate.
“The presence of young people is a sign that we want our culture not to be eroded by the rapid growth of technology,” said Vho-Mathe.
He said the schools will compete in traditional dance, poetry, storytelling and traditional games.
Mathe said they are expecting 562 participants from schools under Chief Tshitaudze. Local artistes will also grace the event, with 15 and two Tshi-Venda authors already confirmed among them, including Brenda Muleya and Samuel Mulaudzi.
“The lineup includes Jex Waga, Vha Fisher, Prince Adrie, Krystal WaMrepa, Christen Mirror of Ligwena Music, Bhadilah, Mark Geezo, Sdu Kayz, King Hluza, Defeat The Vocalist, Gefabs, Tenny Kelly, Charks SA, Viola Muimbi, DJ Bherris and Nethengwe among others,” he said.
“The programme is intentionally structured to bridge tradition and contemporary expression through a fusion of cultural and modern design. That approach, organisers say, reflects Beitbridge itself — a border community where multiple languages and traditions meet daily.
“For the Sotho, Venda and Shangani families in the Chief Tshitaudze area, the festival is an opportunity to present their music, dress, food and oral history to a wider audience, while also learning from each other.”
Mathe said elders from the community will lead guidance and counselling sessions aimed at transmitting cultural knowledge to younger generations and reinforcing intergenerational learning.
Beyond performances, he said, the festival also aims to address key challenges faced by local artists, including limited access to resources, low market visibility and concerns around cultural appropriation.
Vho-Mathe said the initiative is rooted in promoting cultural authenticity, encouraging sustainable creative practices and strengthening collaboration among artists.
“The festival serves as both a cultural celebration and a creative industries incubator. It will preserve heritage through live performances and design while empowering youth and women,” he said.
Mathe also highlighted that emerging artists are expected to benefit from workshops, mentorship programmes and professional feedback sessions led by experienced practitioners.
He said market stalls will allow crafters, designers and food vendors to sell directly to the public, creating immediate income opportunities and testing new products.
The festival targets artists, designers, students and members of the public. Organisers are confident it will grow into a key cultural and economic driver for the region, attracting visitors to Tshitaudze Culture Village and putting Beitbridge’s heritage on the national map.
For a district often known for its border traffic, the event shifts focus to what lives beyond the trucks and queues — the songs, stories, games and crafts passed down in homes across Ward 12.
In a community where identity is tied to land, language and custom, the Tshitaudze Heritage Festival is being framed as more than entertainment.
It is a statement that culture remains a living resource that can unite people, teach children, support livelihoods and attract investment.
With schools, elders, artistes and businesses all involved, organisers hope the first edition sets the tone for an annual gathering that keeps Beitbridge’s traditions alive while opening new doors for its youth.
