MASHONALAND East province today hosts the first performances of the annual traditional dance showcase, Chibuku Neshamwari Dance competition, at Cocktail Bar in Murewa.
BY WINSTONE ANTONIO
The dance competition which is in its 52nd year seeks to promote local arts from grassroots level.
About 10 groups will battle for honours at the provincial competitions with the top winners from the province walking away $1 000 richer.
The participating groups will showcase a cross section of popular traditional dances from across the country such as mbakumba, mbende, bira, setapa and the traditional nyau.
The competition is run by Delta Beverages through their Chibuku brand, technical partners National Arts Council of Zimbabwe and the Zimbabwe Traditional Dance Association.
In a statement, Delta Beverages marketing manager Patricia Murambinda said they remained committed to supporting arts in Zimbabwe through the company’s Chibuku brand.
“As a Zimbabwean company, we value the privilege of promoting and celebrating our culture and heritage, which is part of what it means to be proudly Zimbabwean to us. Through our Chibuku brand, we have been committed to the arts for over 50 years,” Murambinda said.
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She said the competition was coming at a time when Delta Beverages was increasing its footprint through the popular brand Chibuku Super and they would be looking at the competition as an opportunity for lucky imbibers to sample the fast selling product.
“Chibuku is the people’s beer, and the public should expect an exciting event this year. The provincial competition venues are the place to be as our consumers will enjoy great entertainment free of charge and will get to interact with their favourite brand in a safe environment,” she said.
For the first time in the history of the competition, the City of Kings and Queens, Bulawayo, will host the national finals, a move Murambinda said showed Delta Beverage’s commitment to bring all sponsorship properties to the people across the country.
“There are a diverse range of traditional dances in Zimbabwe that span traditional aspects of pre-colonial life from rain- making, war and harvest. It will be a tough order for the judges to select the winners from this year’s line-up,” Murambinda said.
The provincial competition will spread across the country’s 10 provinces with Matabeleland South’s groups battling for honours on May 2 at Malaxo Beer Hall in Beitbridge, while Masvingo will host the competition on May 9 at Chigarapasi Beer Hall in Chiredzi.
In Mashonaland West, it will be staged on May 23 at Number 1 Beer Hall in Chinhoyi, while in the Midlands it will be on May 30 at Mutamba Beer Hall in Gokwe.
For Harare, it will be at Zebra Bar in Mbare on June 6, Matabeleland North on June 13 at Chinotimba Old Bar in Victoria Falls, in Manicaland, YaDzonzayi Beer Hall, Chipinge will host the competition on June 20.
Manor Hotel will host the Bulawayo edition on June 20 with Mashonaland Central being the last province to hosts the competition on June 27 at Kiparari Bar in Shamva.
The festival is one of the longest-running arts sponsorship programmes in the country. Launched in 1963, the Chibuku Neshamwari franchise is the biggest arts sponsorship of its size and reach in the country.
The festival has churned out a number of talented traditional dancers who have made names for themselves on the local showbiz.
