WATCH: A gift from the President on his birthday in Victoria Falls

A lunchtime performance on Monday, September 16, 2024, at a Victoria Falls hotel, will forever be etched in the memories of Inguquko White Stars. It’s not every day that a traditional dance group gets the honour of performing for a nation’s leader on his special day.

On that sunny and breezy afternoon, the dance troupe from Victoria Falls had the esteemed honour of serenading President Mnangagwa with the Happy Birthday hymn.

President Mnangagwa, who turned 82 on September 15, dedicated several hours on Monday to participate in the Zimbabwe Economic Development Conference (ZEDCON) in Victoria Falls. Away from the serious business of economic development, the country’s Head of State and Government enjoyed a rendition of the Happy Birthday song by the Victoria Falls-based ensemble.

Given the enormity of the occasion, Inguquko White Stars did not disappoint. The group’s performance captivated President Mnangagwa, who was accompanied by Defence Minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri, Minister of Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion Professor Mthuli Ncube and other top Government officials.

Vitalis Nkosi, the group’s director, shared his excitement with Saturday Chronicle about performing for the President.

“We are thrilled to have sung for the President on his birthday. We have performed for him before but this was our first time on such a significant occasion, his birthday. We’ve had the privilege of showcasing our talents to an esteemed audience that included the presidents of South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, the King of eSwatini and our very own President Mnangagwa.

“We always perform for him every time he visits Victoria Falls but today it was a very significant performance for us because it was a big day for the President,” said Nkosi with pride. The Victoria Falls-based ensemble consists of 16 members — 12 males and four females.

Nkosi mentioned that the group’s most memorable performances have been for the President.
“His constant smiles and undivided attention demonstrate his appreciation of our music, making today’s performance even more special as we had the chance to personally interact with him.

“We are elated and consider ourselves fortunate to have had such a unique experience. We hold deep affection for the President and wish him the best and a long life.”

Victoria Falls is home to more than a dozen dance groups dedicated to greeting guests at the airport, hotel entrances and the Rainforest. The Inguquko White Stars dance group is among these and performs at the entrance of the Rainforest and Elephant Hills Resort under a contract with African Sun Limited.

“We look forward to perform for the President on another special occasion. Receiving the invitation to perform for him today filled us with happiness and excitement. We are immensely grateful for the opportunity,” said Nkosi.

The group is renowned for its diversity, showcasing a wide range of traditional dances from Zimbabwe as well as Botswana’s Setape and South Africa’s Mzansi.

In 2013, Inguquko White Stars had the privilege to perform at the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) general assembly gala, which was jointly hosted by Zimbabwe and Zambia. The music gala, which was dubbed “Welcome Tourism Night”, was meant to welcome delegates to the UNWTO general assembly.

Notable artistes such as Sandra Ndebele, Albert Nyathi, and Jah Prayzah, among others, performed at the gala. Some of the artistes hailing from the resort town who also entertained delegates at the gala included groups such as Mokoomba, Victoria Falls Ubuntu Bomuntu, Simunye Arts Ensemble, Black Amakhwezi, Vuka Mthwakazi, Umkhankaso Wamajaha and Chicken Bus band.

Nkosi said they look forward to performing at national events such as Independence Day, Heroes Day, and Defence Forces celebrations.

The President, said Nkosi, is a leader who supports the arts sector and they were grateful as artistes. Under President Mnangagwa’s leadership, the Second Republic has made significant progress in ensuring that the arts sector receives the recognition it deserves.

The Government has in the past honoured artistic heroes and recently granted liberation hero status to the late members of the rhumba band Insimbi ZeZhwane, Elvis “MaEli” Mathe and Thembinkosi “Maviri” Mpofu. This action reflects the Government’s commitment to fostering growth in the arts sector as a contributor to national development.

Embracing the Second Republic’s philosophy of inclusivity, attention has been directed towards revitalising the previously overlooked arts sector.

In December 2019, the President led a two-day conference for Cultural and Creative Industries (CCIs), reaffirming his support for artistes. Furthermore, he endorsed the production “Songs of Lozikeyi” in 2021, a musical, theatrical, and poetic tribute to the legacy of Ndebele Queen Lozikeyi Dlodlo.