adminCourage Musariri Entertainment Reporter
PRIMARY Schools from the country’s 10 provinces are ready to battle it out in this year’s National Jikinya Dance and Choral finals set for Bulawayo’s Large City Hall today. The Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Andrew Langa will be the guest of honour at the festival which is running under the theme, “Our Culture: A Spring of Diversity and Harmony”.
Annually held jointly by National Arts Council of Zimbabwe (NACZ) and National Association of Primary School Heads (Naph), jikinya aims to encourage children to appreciate and perform Zimbabwean traditional dances, thus promoting and preserving the country’s cultural heritage.
This year finalists from all the country’s provinces will be competing on a set dance, jerusarema/ mbende and another one of their choice.
The idea for schools to compete in one common dance was introduced three years ago.
It was way of making sure that pupils were knowledgeable of dances from other regions, instead of those from their own.
In the long run this will make them appreciate the diversity of Zimbabwean traditional dances.
Matabeleland South province is being represented by Sabiwa Primary School from Gwanda North who won first prize after showcasing Amajukwa dance in the own choice category in the provincial finals. Mkhithika Primary school and Chinotimba Primary School will represent Bulawayo and Matabeleland North provinces dancing the ihosana and amabhiza dances respectively.
Maringire Primary School from Chivi district will represent Masvingo province performing the mbakumba dance, whereas, Mashonaland Central will be represented by Nyandoro Primary School from Guruve. Mupamombe Primary School from Sanyati East is Mashonaland West’s representative and will showcase the Dinhe dance with St Joseph Primary School from Mashonaland East coming in with the Chinyambera dance.
Other primary schools taking part in the finals are Matenda from Midland province, Gaza from Manicaland and Rusununguko from Harare province.
Guest performing group will be Umkhathi Theatre, a Bulawayo based dance group that scooped first prize in this year’s Chibuku NeShamwari Dance Festival.
The group will showcase their prowess through various dances that include Setapa dance, a traditional Tswana dance which won them the Chibuku NeShamwari Dance Festival championship.
Online Reporter