Chibuku Neshamwari Dance Festival is back

Fungai Muderere
NOW they can dance again!

After being put on ice for close to three years owing to Covid-19, Chibuku Neshamwari Dance Festival makes a return in the country’s entertainment circles amid revelations that the competition roars to life on 28 May.

The dance competition that covers all the country’s 10 provinces has over the years afforded dance groups global recognition and performances at various corporate and cultural events.

Chibuku Neshamwari Traditional Dance Festival is an annual event aimed at empowering unheralded artistes and nurturing talent around the country.

The programme is sponsored by Delta Beverages through their Chibuku brand and co-ordinated by National Arts Council of Zimbabwe in partnership with Zimbabwe Traditional Dance Association

“This festival has become important in promoting and ensuring that traditional dances, which are one of our crucial intangible cultural heritages, are celebrated. Dance and music have played an important part in the way people interact, celebrate and narrate our past. To this end, Chibuku Neshamwari Traditional Dance Festival has kept alive the many traditional dances that define the country and its people,” said Delta Corporation general manager Patricia Murambinda.

Delta Corporation general manager Patricia Murambinda.

She added: “ Chibuku Neshamwari Dance Festival will hold dance competitions, where participants from across the 10 provinces of Zimbabwe will come through and compete. The top three winning groups will receive prize monies.

This will then culminate in a National Final where winners from the 10 provinces will battle it out to be crowned overall winners.”

Phibion Ncube

Under the guidance of their director Phibion Ncube, Bulawayo’s 17-member Ezimnyama were the last winners in 2019, pocketing US$15 000 plus a trophy at an event that was held at Kadoma’s Rimuka Stadium.

This was their second time having landed the top prize in 2017 at White City Stadium.

In 2019, Ezimnyama won with their Batswana traditional dance “Setapa”, that originated from Botswana. The dance is also popular in parts of Matabeleland South.

Mashonaland West province representatives Budiriro Arts Ensemble came second and received $10 000 while Totambengoma from Harare walked away with $5 000. They received silver and bronze medals respectively.

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