SUNGURA maestro Alick Macheso will this Saturday headline the Chibuku neShamwari Traditional Dance Competition finals in Mutare, along with contemporary musician Jah Prayzah and afrobeats singer Enzo Ishall.
National Arts Council of Zimbabwe (NACZ) Manicaland provincial arts manager Carol Makoni said on the same occasion, Chibuku will be celebrating 62 years of Zimbabwean cultural-oriented brewing excellence.
The event will be held at Mutare showgrounds.
Ten provincial winners will be competing in the grand finale, where the winner will walk away US$15 000 richer, with the second and third spots earning US$10 000 and US$7 500, respectively.
The finalists include Semvumba Dance Group (Mutare, Manicaland), Green Stars Dance Group (Kuwadzana, Harare), Undigure (Zvishavane, Midlands), Imvimbi Traditional Dance Group (Matabeleland North) and Goromonzi Arts Ensemble Dance Group (Goromonzi, Mashonaland East).
There is also Sekunjalo MaAfrica (Mzilikazi, Bulawayo), Sekusile Isitshikitsha (Mzingwane, Matabeleland South), Jeketera Renyaningwe (Chivi, Masvingo), Katawa Dance Group (Zvimba, Mashonaland West) and Guruve Marimba Arts Ensemble from Guruve in Mashonaland Central province.
The Manicaland provincial finals were held in Watsomba where Semvumba Dance Group emerged the winners.
Makoni told NewsDay Life & Style that preparations were on course, adding that they were looking forward to a memorable event.
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“We are looking forward to a memorable event as all preparations have been accomplished,” she said.
“Musicians Alick Macheso, Jah Prayzah and Enzo Ishall, including lots of other surprises, shall be at the core of entertainment at this year’s Chibuku neShamwari Traditional Dance Competition Finals.
“The fact that Delta Beverages is celebrating 62 years of brewing excellence is synonymous with the fact that the group that provides the best celebration will carry the day.”
The Chibuku neShamwari Traditional Dance competition was launched in 1963 at Mbare’s Mai Musodzi Hall and the festival has been the cornerstone for preserving Zimbabwe’s rich traditional dances.
History has it that Mashonaland East-based Nyaungwe Arts Ensemble has the highest number of national final wins, a record five wins (2009, 2012, 2015, 2018 and 2024), which confirms its ambassadorial roles as jerusarema mbende icons.
In similar manner, nyau dances are the most widely showcased across all provinces, with the other traditional dances from around Zimbabwe being dinhe, mhande, chinyambera, mbakumba, setapa, ingquzu and isitshikitsha, to mention a few.
It is from this cultural orientation that Chibuku has come with the Scud, Banana, Chocolate and Ginger flavours to meet the growing pride in culturally refined and organic food products.
The Chibuku neShamwari Traditional Dance Competition is championed by a partnership among the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe, National Traditional Dancers Association of Zimbabwe, Delta Beverages and Chibuku.
