THE City of Kings and Queens, Bulawayo, will for the first time host the Chibuku Neshamwari Dance finals.
The finals are scheduled for this weekend at White City Stadium.
The competition will have 10 provincial finalists that will showcase the country’s different traditional dances.
The ultimate winner will walk away US$4 000 richer.
Delta Beverages marketing manager Patricia Murambinda in a press statement said, the company will continue to sponsor the dance bonanza as it celebrated the country’s culture and heritage through dance.
“As a Zimbabwean company, we value the privilege of promoting and celebrating our culture and heritage, which is all part of what it means to be proudly Zimbabwean,” she said.
Delta Beverages began sponsoring the popular dance competition at its inception in 1963.
The dance competition has played a significant role in preserving elements of culture that could have been lost over time.
The continued practice of dances for competition purposes has ensured that these dances remain alive and relevant in society.
The dances have been passed on from one generation to another with each preceding group working hard to ensure that those inheriting the dances not just appreciate, but fully master them.
Dancing is a critical component of African societies.
Since time immemorial, tribes have used dance to recount norms, ways of life and aspirations.
History of societies have been preserved and passed on through dance.
Dances such as the Muchongoyo, in Manicaland and other parts of the country, celebrate conquering challenges.
The Mbende Jerusarema dance is another popular traditional dance.
The dance has its origins among the Zezuru people particularly those in Mashonaland East Province and is more famous in the Goromonzi and Murehwa districts.
Mbende movements are inspired by a burrowing mouse.
These mouse-like movements are evident in movements made by male dancers.
Male dancers bend while stretching legs.
The high tempo, the acrobatic movements and the squatting position with the upper body moved forward are some of the indications that are highly reminiscent of the mouse.
Other theories link Mbende Jerusarema to war.
According to oral tradition, the Zezurus used Mbende to divert the attention of the enemy during war.
But there is nothing warlike in the movements of the dance, unlike other war dances in Zimbabwe such as Muchongoyo or Indlamu, Mbende dancers do not use any war instruments such as shields, spears or knobkerries as properties for dance.
Although they are acrobatic movements, the movements do not convey anger, aggression, or intimidation instead the moves are more social and inviting.
The Ndebele have the famous Isitshikitsha dance among its dances that present stiff competition.
Chibuku Neshamwari dance competitions are more than entertainment as they tell the different stories that make up the various sections of the nation.
Through the competition, one gets to fully appreciate the various ethnic groups such as the Ndau and Sena people.
Featuring in this year’s competition are Jahunda Com Arts (Matabeleland South), Umkhankaso Wamajaya (Matabeleland North) and Zimnyama Dance Group (Bulawayo), Makarekare Dance Group (Mashonaland East), Gango Group (Masvingo) and Dhumatasangana Dance Group (Manicaland).
Umchongoyo or Muchongoyo will be one of the prominent dances.
The dance celebrates victory in battle and is usually performed by men while women join in through ululating.
Other dances to be performed at the competition include Chinyambera, Zambia Nyau and Dinhe.
Last year’s winners were Ngoma Dzepasi from Mashonaland East who performed the Mbende dance.
The competition is run as a tripartite partnership supported by technical partners National Arts Council of Zimbabwe and the Zimbabwe Traditional Dance Association.