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Brazilian Samba dancers on arrival at Harare International Airport on Wednesday

Arts Reporter
The Harare International Carnival’s Samba Night takes place tonight outside Private Lounge along Harare Street. Organisers said they will block Harare Street outside Private Lounge and Holly’s Hotel and set up a stage for an eventful night of Samba dances.

Samba dancers from Brazil and Cuba are now in the country and will square up at the event that will also have local dancers Zoey Sifelani and Beverly Sibanda as supporting acts.

The Samba Night will be held as a collaborative effort between Zimbabwe Tourism Authority and Devine Assignments. ZTA head of corporate affairs Sugar Chagonda said they are happy to bring on the Samba Night that will have international acts competing with local dancers. Samba dancers have always been an attraction at the carnival and this year two countries will compete for honours on the night.

“Over the past years we only had Samba dancers from Brazil and this year Cuba has joined the festivities. It will be a night to remember as we bring a mixture of cultures. We are happy that the girls are now here and are raring to go. They have said that they are excited about to grace the event and promised good acts,” said Chagonda.

“As ZTA we are happy to do another carnival that brings people from various countries together. It is a time to celebrate and be happy. It is a time to have cultural diversity in entertainment and we are ready for the best. The carnival has gone well so far and it is ticking towards its peak.”

The Samba Night was initially set for Wednesday night and was moved to tonight following the change of travel arrangements for international Samba dancers.

Devine Assignments director Biggie Chinoperekwei said they have set the stage for the Samba Night.

“We had done all the groundwork before the postponement of the event and we are more than ready to have action on stage. We have set the stage and we are inviting people to come in their numbers and enjoy the night. Devine Assignments has done various events during the carnival and we know people will have an exciting night with Samba dancers.”