Online Reporter
Lungelo Ndhlovu, [email protected]
THE Members Pavilion at the ZITF grounds was alive with pride on Friday, as Bulawayo’s annual Home Industries Prize Giving became far more than a ceremony of trophies and certificates. It transformed into a celebration of imagination, patience and identity — a day where children, school groups and rehabilitation participants shared one stage and spoke a common language of creativity.
What unfolded inside the pavilion was not merely a competition, but a powerful reminder of the role art and practical skills continue to play in shaping confidence, expression and belonging among young people. Every table, display and carefully arranged entry reflected hours of quiet work carried out in classrooms, homes and community spaces before finally being presented to judges and audiences.
Among the most memorable winners was Kadmil Nyathi, a student from Christian Brothers College, whose modern buffalo artwork captured attention for its bold colours, layered patterns and deeper meaning. Nyathi’s piece stood out not only for its technique, but for the personal story behind it. His surname means buffalo, and he chose to transform that family connection into something visual, modern and expressive.
“It was actually nice working and having our art acknowledged. My surname is Nyathi, so I chose a buffalo because of its boldness and made it modern. I used colours that have an impact on the person seeing it, and the patterns show the background, the past, and how we have come through the years to be who we are,” said Nyathi, explaining his artwork.
For Nyathi, art is also about voice, as it offers a way of expressing ideas that words alone cannot always capture.
“I feel like art is a way that we can represent and tell our story and show people what you think so they can understand it in a different way. Yes, art can be a protest sometimes and do other things, but we do something that someone can look at and understand how you feel about the matter.”
The Home Industries Prize Giving Programme brought together artwork, craftwork, cookery, icing and rehabilitation entries, reminding those present that creativity takes many forms and belongs to people of all ages and backgrounds.
The youngest participants drew some of the warmest applause of the day. Happy Little Feet, a pre-school, won Most Points in the Pre-School category, an achievement that underscored the event’s commitment to nurturing creativity from the earliest years. Their prizes — colouring books, dolls, writing boards and a sponsored hamper — were modest in size but rich in meaning, representing encouragement at an age when confidence is still taking shape.
In the junior division, Centenary School emerged as the top performer, winning Most Points in the Junior School category. One learner in particular, Ngulube Allison of Centenary School, attracted special attention and was named Child with Most Points. The prize package included a trophy, lunch box, raincoat, flask, crayon set and a US$25 cash award.
For many of the children, the recognition extended beyond the prizes. It became a public acknowledgement of effort, imagination and discipline. Parents and teachers watched as learners stepped onto the stage with nervous excitement, returning to their seats clutching certificates and trophies with pride. In those moments, the event became as much about building confidence as it was about competition.
There was also a strong sense of pride in the senior categories. Christian Brothers College claimed the Best Senior Art trophy, while Masiyephambili Junior School won Best Junior Cookery, highlighting the broad scope of the event. The prize giving did not separate art from the practical or the decorative from the edible. Instead, it placed all forms of creation on equal footing. A painting, a cake, a crafted item or a carefully iced design could all be celebrated if they demonstrated imagination and skill.
One of the most meaningful aspects of the programme was the rehabilitation category, where Mlondolozi Prison was the sole participant. Though limited in numbers, the category carried significance far beyond the day itself. It reflected a deliberate effort by organisers to create space for individuals in rehabilitation centres to participate, compete and be recognised. In an event centred on celebration, inclusion became one of its most powerful achievements.
This inclusivity gives the Home Industries Prize Giving a distinctive sense of dignity. It is not only about who wins, but about who is given the opportunity to take part. It creates a platform where a pre-school child, a junior learner, a senior artist and a rehabilitation participant can all belong to the same story. In a society often divided by age, background or circumstance, the event gently insists on connection.
According to Talent Dube, the competition’s marketing coordinator, the success of the event is rooted in months of careful planning. Preparations begin as early as January and February, with entries and payments closing on March 30. Artwork is collected before schools break up, while cookery items are submitted fresh on the day to preserve quality. Though largely invisible to those seated in the pavilion, this process is what gives the event its seamless execution and sense of purpose.
“Actually, it starts from the juniors, like ECDs, infants, and then artwork, they have got craftwork, and then they do the junior art as well. This year we only had Mlondolozi bringing that part. And then we have got cookery as well, which is section T. Icing as well, that is also for kids and adults as well. We accept individuals and schools. So that is to promote what people do out there and encourage kids in what they are doing.”
Dube explained that the goal of the prize giving is not simply to distribute awards, but to encourage creativity and recognise the work being done within communities. That purpose ran through every part of the event — in the careful presentation of entries, in the applause that followed each announcement, and in the quiet pride of participants as their names were called. In a city with a long and rich creative heritage, the Home Industries Prize Giving demonstrated that a new generation of artists, makers and creators is steadily finding its voice, one carefully crafted piece at a time.
