The Jikinya dance festival is back!

Millicent Dube, Showbiz reporter

The Annual Jikinya Dance Festival, which was shelved in the past two years due to the Covid-19 restrictions, has returned with Amabhiza being the common dance for the schools’ competition.

The dance festival has been dated to begin with the provincial finals on the November 11 and the national finals penciled for Winery Hall in Gweru on Thursday 24 November 2022. 

The festival, a partnership between the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe (NACZ) and the National Association of Primary Heads (NAPH) will run under the theme “Building Zimbabwe through dance, our Heritage is our Identity”.

NACZ Communication and Marketing Manager Rodney Ruwende in a statement highlighted that the festival will see schools performing a dance of their choice as well as the common dance Amabhiza. 

 “Amabhiza makes a return as the common dance for the 2022 edition of Jikinya, having been the inaugural common dance in 2011 when the concept was introduced. Most of the schools have already begun making preparations toward the competitions. Excitement keeps on building up as we had to wait for two good years for the return. Finally it’s here,’’ he said.

He said Amabhiza originates from Matabeleland South and was traditionally performed at rain-making ceremonies to appease the spirits of the rainmakers for a good harvest. 

“The dancers follow the steps of a horse accompanied by three drums, clapping and a whistle. The third small drum is a special drum that produces a squawking sound, which is the signature sound of the performance.” 

He said the common dance concept was introduced to allow all participating children, despite their regions, to learn, perform and appreciate diverse Zimbabwean cultures through dance. 

“Several dances have been showcased as the common dance in previous years including Muchongoyo, Jerusarema, Mbakumba, and isiTshikitsha. The dances selected reflect some authentic traditional aspects of a particular ethnic, religious or cultural group in Zimbabwe,” said Ruwende.

He said the theme speaks to the importance of dance in showcasing who we are as Zimbabweans. 

“This theme is appropriate for the return of Jikinya as it calls for the nation to appreciate and perform Zimbabwean traditional dances thus promoting, safeguarding and showcasing our cultural heritage, ’said Ruwende. 

The Jikinya Dance Festival began in 2001 and has nurtured talent in traditional music and dance by showcasing a variety of Zimbabwean dances by primary school pupils. The competition is a permanent fixture on the school calendar involving over 5000 primary schools in the country competing at district, provincial and national levels every year.