SA dancer to grace culture festival

Tafadzwa Zimoyo Arts Reporter
South African celebrated choreographer, dancer and singer Ephraim Molatlhegi Nakedi makes a welcome return to this year’s Mashonaland East Cultural Festival scheduled to open tomorrow at Murewa Culture Centre. Nakedi, more popularly known as Malume Tau, will be backed by a live band and is among the performers for this year’s sixth edition including the likes of Killer T, Liversy Matamba, Vatumwa Vamwari, Faheem Somnaje, Portifa Mopo of the “Makandiberekerei” fame and Sabastian Magacha.

The four-day arts festival is running under the theme “advancing rights of migrant domestic workers through integrated action”. Malume Tau and his ensemble are expected to thrill the audiences in a predominantly Jerusarema area with their South African dances and songs. Born and bred in Madikwe in North West Province in South Africa, Malume Tau has participated in cultural exchange programmes where he has learnt how to merge African traditional dances and music. He is director of Sebata Tribal Entertainment formed in 2008, the group showcases marimba, gumboots dance, poetry and theatre.

The group has won several awards and performed at different festivals including the Morula Beer Festival, Basha Festival and Sasco Arts festival to mention a few. He last performed at MECUF in 2013. According to Cuthbert Maziwa who is the manager of Murewa Culture Centre and advisor to MECUF, this year’s event is bigger and better.

“We are partnering several reputable organisations this year including Zimbabwe Red Cross Society, The European Union, Environmental Management Agency, National Arts Council of Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe National Parks and NATCAZ. It’s going to be a big event focusing on edutainment from several sectors and we invite everyone to come and consume our cultural products,’’ he said.

Also partnering MECUF is theatre group Together As One who are going to be raising awareness on the rights of migrant domestic workers through plays. TAO is one of the biggest sponsors for this year and will showcase their plays on October 30 at the centre. Other activities include the launch ceremony at Murewa Caves, a tourist site, then a theatre and clean up campaign.

A gospel show is slated for November 1 at the centre featuring Sabastian Magacha and Vatumwa VaMwari among others.