POPULAR Mutare-based musician Blessing Shumba will make his maiden appearance at the annual Murehwa Uzumba Cultural Festival (Mucuf) that begins on October 24.
Report by Jairos Saunyama
Shumba, who will be performing for the first time in Murehwa since he ventured into music, will be on stage on the night of October 26.
He will be supported by popular Goromonzi Traditional Dance group Ngoma Dzepasi, sungura groups Hambakwe Stars and Makomborero Express.
Festival spokesperson Lloyd Maibheka said they called Shumba after requests by Murehwa residents to have the gospel musician in the area for the first time.
“Shumba is a musician who is on top of his game and people from Murehwa have never seen him performing live,” said Maibheka.
“His participation at this year’s edition of Mucuf means a lot to fans and other artistes.”
The festival’s opening bira ceremony will be held at Murehwa Caves. The bira will be conducted overnight till the next morning with mbira players taking turns to provide dandanda music.
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On October 25 there will be a textile design workshop, a women’s arts workshop and the day will be capped by performances from theatre groups.
The last day of the festival will be concluded by exhibitions where local artists will display their wares.
Children will be given a chance to take part at the festival on October 27 when there will be crèche modelling and traditional dances by various schools.
Other artistes to take part at the festival include Ngoma Dzepasi, Douglas Vambe, Rarira Dendera, Mhando Yepasi, Nyamutumbu and Jenya Club.
The festival was founded in 2010 to fulfill Chief Jonathan Mangwende’s desire to have unification, promotion and celebration of the rich artistic and cultural heritage of his area in Murehwa.
