UMKHATHI Theatre Works proved themselves an arts powerhouse on Saturday afternoon when they came tops at the Chibuku Neshamwari Traditional Dance Festival that was held at Manor Hotel, Bulawayo.
Report by Luyanduhlobo Makwati
The highly energetic group shrugged off stiff competition from spirited competitors, as they booked their place in the Harare finals.
Umkhathi earned themselves the sole ticket to represent Bulawayo at the national finals and prize money of $500, while Kwabatsha dance group came second and they received $300. Ingwenyama Arts landed the third position and pocketed $200. Umkhathi will represent Bulawayo Province in the capital on August 31.
The leader of the group, Matesu Dube, said it was a great honour for them to win the competition at provincial level. He said they will continue working hard and bring the prestigious award from the national finals.
“Now that we have won this competition, we promise people from Bulawayo that we will win at the national finals,” Dube said. “As a group we believe it is high time for Bulawayo as a province to stop playing, second fiddle to provinces such as Harare at the finals.”
The National Arts Council of Zimbabwe (Nacz) programmes officer for Bulawayo province, William Nyandoro, also echoed the same sentiments.
He said this year Bulawayo groups exhibited a lot of energy and high levels of maturity in terms of traditional dance and he also said he was confident that this year the provincial winners would do them proud at the national finals.
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“Our groups this year put up spirited performances,” Nyandoro said. “I believe our winners will do us proud as a province and we are going to the national finals with the aim of bring the prestigious award back home.”
He said it had been a while since a group from Bulawayo won the competition at national level.
“The last time we brought the prestigious award home was in 2007 when Thandanani Arts Ensemble did us proud as Bulawayo. I believe that this year we will win in Harare,” he added.
Chibuku Neshamwari Traditional Dance Festival is an annual event that is sponsored by Delta Beverages and the competition runs under the Chibuku banner. It is organised by Nacz, in collaboration with the Zimbabwe National Traditional Dance Association.
