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Bongani Ndlovu Showbiz Correspondent
OCTOBER 31 for some in the western world is a special day when they celebrate Halloween — a holiday where people dress up as horrific characters such as ghosts, zombies and witches in remembrance of the dead.
This craze seems to have caught on in Zimbabwe as a number of nightspots observed the day last week by throwing Halloween costume parties. Restaurants were not to be outdone as they had Halloween themes with special areas being put up for children to play in their costumes.
Club Eden in Bulawayo held the Halloween Night and Lucky’s Black and Orange Halloween Party last week Friday and Saturday respectively. Not to be outdone was Horizon Pub and Grill which held a Twilight Halloween Costume Party.
Patrons, mostly female, took the costume parties seriously and went all out as they were dressed as zombies and other characters that represent death.
Halloween is a yearly celebration observed in a number of countries on October 31, the eve of the Western Christian feast of All Hallows’ Day.
It initiates the time in the year dedicated to remembering the dead, including saints (hallows), martyrs, and all the faithful departed believers. On November 1 the Catholic Church celebrates All Saints Day.
International celebrities also celebrated the day with Blue Ivy, daughter of music power couple Jay Z and Beyonce, dressed by her mother as the late Michael Jackson. Blue Ivy was spotting Jacko’s trade mark white gloves, red jacket, white socks and black hat. Beyonce dressed up as the late icon’s younger sister Janet, to complete the mother daughter look.
Asked why they had celebrated Halloween locally, Club Eden DJ Kananjo said they had decided to join the rest of the world.
“Though it’s an American holiday, we as a club are always planning crazy, fun ideas. Clubbing is just boring if you do the same things everytime, hence our decision to hold this exciting event,” Kananjo said.
He, however, said Zimbabweans needed to be educated more on Halloween as most patrons did not dress up for the event.
“We’d a good turn-out at the club last weekend but not many people dressed up for the event. We just wish that people dress up when there are themes at clubs,” said Kananjo.
Mduduzi Mdlongwa of 3D events, who organised the Halloween costume party at Horizon Pub and Grill, said from a Christian view such parties could be used to usher people into the dark world, but from an entertainer’s point of view it was just another party.
“October 31 is celebrated the world over as Halloween night. As entertainers, we felt obliged to follow the work themed event. The turnout was ok and people dressed up,” said Mdlongwa.
Big Brother Africa (BBA) Housemates were not to be outdone as their party with DJ Flevah last week had a Halloween theme. Scary night it was as Big Brother supplied them and the DJ with zombie and ghosts outfits.
However, not many Zimbabweans were keen to celebrate Halloween because to them, remembering the dead brings contradictions with their Christian faith, ushering revellers to the world of evil. On the contrary, some said the Halloween parties were harmless.
Some disgruntled parents said they were shocked that their children had been told to come with Halloween costumes to school.
“My daughter came to me and told me she wanted a costume for Halloween. I was shocked as I think this is associated with Satanism somehow, the outfits themselves are just freaky and unholy,” said a parent who declined to be named on condition of anonymity.
Veteran playwright and culturalist Cont Mhlanga bemoaned the celebration of Halloween in Zimbabwe saying locals were so proud of borrowing, following and celebrating western culture at the expense of their own.
“Our culture has been lost as we’re adopting western cultures. We shun our own culture where we used to observe days such as Wednesday and Thursday where it was taboo to do manual work in the fields. Now, you have people who say let’s observe Halloween and celebrate it. We should desist from this as Zimbabweans,” he said.
He added that it was sad Zimbabweans were willingly and openly worshipping the devil in celebrating Halloween.
“The celebration of Halloween is a movement of people worshipping the devil and making it cool. We kept witchcraft away from our children for a certain reason.
“However because of our love of western culture that celebrates the exaltation of death through wearing Halloween costumes and masks, we’ve exposed our children to witchcraft.
“It’s shame that Zimbabweans want to follow this trend,” said Mhlanga.
derick.khumalo