adminSimbarashe Mutizwa Showbiz Reporter
SEKUNJALO Ma-Africa Arts came out tops at the Chibuku Neshamwari Traditional Dance Festival held in Bulawayo on Saturday. The group beat nine others and walked away with a $500 prize money and a sole ticket to represent Bulawayo in the national finals set for August 16 in Harare. Ezimnyama Arts settled for second position and walked away with $300 while Imvimbi Arts came third and walked away with $200.
Other participating groups included Woza Africa, Ingwenyama Arts, Inkume Arts, Kwabatsha Arts and Iluba Lemvelo Arts.
The groups, drawn from different districts in the Matabeleland region, kept the large audience of about 300 people entertained with their captivating traditional dances such as umtshongoyo, stapa, isitshikitsha, sepata, jerusarema, amabhiza and gumboot dance.
Sekunjalo’s director Arnold Ndebele could not hide his joy over his group’s victory.
“I’m amazed by the victory as this is the first appearance with the group in this festival and already we have recorded success. This means a lot to me,” he said.
Ndebele said the New Magwegwe-based group was set to come up with new choreographed dances and productions in preparation for the Harare finals.
“We are going to work hard to perfect our choreographs and productions and we are coming in with a new dance called umzansi for the finals,” he said.
Last year’s national champions, Umkhathi Theatre Works, were guest performers at the festival.
Inaugurated in 2001, the competition is a collaborative effort between Delta Beverages and National Arts Council of Zimbabwe (NACZ) in partnership with the Zimbabwe National Traditional Dance Association (ZNTDA).
Its aim is to promote and develop music groups with an ability to excel.
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