adminSuch ancient musical instruments as the African drum, mbira, hosho, amahlwayi and dandanda among others became part of the rhythm of their survival.
It was during rain, war, hunting, harvest ceremonies and social events that the type of music accompanied with dance always turned into meaningful purpose.
Over the years traditional music and dance has promptly been overtaken by the technological advancement in contemporary musical brands. This has somehow culminated in the present day generation not attaching much value to this crucial component of our custom.
With particular attention to the city of Bulawayo, the music industry has gradually been losing its lustre — a result that has seen most musicians from this part of the country either moving out of the city for greener pastures or absolutely quitting, due to a variety of reasons, chief among them poor market base.
Nevertheless, in the face of all the adversities that have somehow drained life from the city’s music industry, the traditional dance fraternity has surprisingly and deservedly weathered the storm and firmly stood its own.
Just on the turn of the millennium, Zimbabwe had the urban grooves music genre swiftly finding its way in the music industry.
When it emerged, the genre like a germinating seed, brought with it some offshoots in the form of the so-called dance groups who heavily relied on other people’s music for their stage performances.
The era saw the birth of Girls La Musica, Amavithikazi, Mambokadzi, Banyana-Bafana, Girls of Peace and New Age Crew just to mention, but a few. Their rise, though with much reception from the public, the idea became widespread and fitted well in the showbiz set up as witnessed by how promoters jostled for their services.
The ascendance of this type of dance somehow meant that a certain genre of dance was also going to suffocate competition-wise and that had to be traditional dance. But, like a bubblegum, the sweetness was always going to be short-lived and what became of it was just predictable.
Interestingly, while the modern dance was enjoying much shore up, the traditional dances remained unshakable and unscathed.
Indeed the traditional dance which happens to be a significant symbol of our unadulterated origin and an epitome of who we are had to re-stamp its authority in the hectic entertainment circles.
Thanks to such traditional sponsors as Delta through Chibuku Neshamwari competitions, Culture Fund, The British Council and the custodians, the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe in their endeavour to preserve our unique and essential culture.
In the City of Kings, apparently there are many traditional dance groups than musical groups and encouragingly most of them have since been doing well locally and internationally. Some have even made it a culture to grace international festivals more than once a year.
With the two prominent groups in the form of Siyaya and Iyasa seemingly leading “Team Bulawayo”, such groups as an all female dance outfit, Thandanani, Umkhathi Theatre Group, Kaisa Dance Group,
Kwabatsha Dance Company, Ngwenyama Arts Ensemble, Hloseni Dance Company and Amawumbo Dance Company among a host of equally talented groups, have refused to be sidelined.
Saturday Leisure talked to some of the leading groups in the city on why they chose to explore the genre and make it big in the industry.
Trust Madolo, the director of Kwabatsha Dance Company, said his group chose to venture into this type as a way of preserving culture and encouraging the youth to take pride in it.
“The main aim is to revive our culture and make the young people understand their culture.
“It was through traditional dance that most modern styles were derived from,” he said.
Gumbo said it was disheartening to note that the majority of youths in the country did not appreciate traditional dance, but preferred contemporary dances from foreign lands.
“Most youths in the city do not appreciate traditional dance groups, the people who easily absorb it are primary school children so for one to find ways to capture the youths they have to mix it with theatre or some interesting activities.
“But it is different with the whites in foreign land because they are overwhelmed by our culture and they are never tired of it,” he said.
Nkululeko Dube, the director of Iyasa dance group, one of the revered and successful groups in the city, said traditional dance had stood the test of time because it is what defines a community.
“Traditional dance is about origination, it is what defines a community because it is where we tap in our history.
“It is the mirror of any community and as such people are defined by their dances,” said Dube.
He said traditional dance was unlike pop culture which faded away like bubblegum.
“Traditional dance is unlike pop culture which comes and goes and is always ever changing.
“People from each part of the world would always want to see the culture by the Ndebele, Shona, and Xhosa people. It is a reflection of who they are, because it does not have a sell by date,” he said.
He said in the country traditional dance was mostly appreciated by the adult audience that is why his group fuses it with the latest dances in order to appeal to all the audiences.
Our culture and tradition may be diluted but will never be completely eroded or substituted.
Online Reporter