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Arts Correspondent
A lot is expected this weekend when different arts stakeholders meet for the Jerusarema Mbende Dance Workshop and Festival to be held at Murehwa Cultural Centre. According to a statement released

by the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe (NACZ), a workshop will be conducted on Friday and the festival on Saturday. “The workshop will start at 9am on Friday whereas the festival begins at 10am both at Murewa Culture Centre in Murewa,” reads the statement.

According to the arts governing board the workshop’s focus will be on the role of traditional dance in communities today, understanding Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) and its link with the traditional dance.

“The Festival is the safeguarding measure for the Mbende Jerusarema Dance which was proclaimed a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity with Murewa Culture Centre acting as the reference place for safeguarding purposes.

“The dance is performed by the community of Murewa and Uzumba Maramba Pfungwe (UMP),” reads the statement.

Mbende/Jerusarema is a popular dance style practised by the people living in the Murewa and Uzumba-Maramba-Pfungwe districts in eastern Zimbabwe.

The dance is characterised by sensual and acrobatic movements by women in unison with men, driven by a single poly-rhythmic drummer accompanied by men playing woodblock clappers and by women hand-clapping, yelling and blowing whistles.

Mbende is one of the traditional dances that have dominated the country’s competitions.

The annual event has for years attracted crowds as well as a number of performing groups.

Sponsors of the event, NACZ and several individuals participating in the event have been hailed for their effort to uphold our traditional culture thorough the prestigious event.

Last month mbende group Makarekare won the Chibuku Neshamwari traditional dance competition that was held in Bulawayo. The group will perform at the Jerusarema fest.