BY LIFE &STYLE REPORTER
MUREWA Culture Centre will on March 27 host the inaugural one-day Mvura Naya Naya festival in commemoration of the United Nations’ World Water Day.
In a statement, festival co-ordinator Chief NeChombo yesterday said the initiative was aimed at positioning the tangible and intangible cultural heritages as it is taken out of the phrase Mvura Naya Naya, which is associated with good fortunes of prosperity synonymous with good rains.
“The festival is a community-based initiative championed by traditional leaders in Mashonaland East province working closely with the government and other partners within the various sectors of the economy,” he said.
“It is set against the background of cultural erosion in the country and is borne out of a new narrative of wanting to position, preserve and promote the Zimbabwean culture. The festival is a prayer which signifies development in the cultural, social and economic sectors. With this we are saying, Mvura Naya Naya is a vehicle to bring forth the good waters of economic, social and cultural development.”
Chief NeChombo said the festival would feature the Mvura Naya Naya Cultural song/poem meaning prosperity in all sectors, marimba songs, drums/ngoma competition — three groups — dance competition, traditional dressing for chiefs and chiefs’ wives fashion and design competition and drama groups performing traditional marriage ceremonies and dare.
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He said the event would also showcase exhibitions in art, craft, traditional foods, herbs — indigenous knowledge systems, home industry displays like duri/kutswa, guyo (grinding stone), maheu, opaque beer and juices.