Mash West and Mat North Dance Groups Bring New Flair to Chibuku Neshamwari
TRADITIONAL dance groups performing cultural dances with roots in Zimbabwe and neighbouring countries dominated the Chibuku Neshamwari Traditional Dance Festival provincial finals in Mashonaland West and Matabeleland North over the weekend.
The competitions, held in Chinhoyi in and Victoria Falls respectively, showcased the strong cultural links that communities in the region continue to preserve through music and dance.
In Mashonaland West, all three top-placed groups performed variations of the popular Gule Wamkulu and Nyau dances. Pisa Pisa Nyau won the provincial title with a Malawi Gule Wamkulu performance, while Chabvondoka came second with the Nsenga Zambia Nyau dance. Norton Achewa completed the podium places with the Achewa Gule Wamkulu dance.
The results highlighted the continued popularity of the traditional masked dances, which have become an important feature of cultural festivals in many parts of Zimbabwe.
Meanwhile, Matabeleland North produced a diverse range of performances. Victoria Falls-based Amakhosikazi took first prize with the Isitshikitsha dance, while Gule Wamkulu Hwange finished second with the Gure Zambia dance. Third place went to Amafolosi Amahle, whose Indlamu-Mzansi performance drew strong support from the crowd.
The winning groups received US$2,500, US$1,500 and US$1,000 respectively and qualified for the national finals set for July 11.
Organisers said the festival continues to play an important role in preserving traditional dances and promoting cultural exchange among communities.
The Chibuku Neshamwari Traditional Dance Festival is organised by Delta Beverages in partnership with the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe and the Zimbabwe National Traditional Dancers Association. It remains one of Zimbabwe’s largest cultural celebrations, attracting thousands of performers and spectators each year.
