Zim culture showcase in the East UZ Creative writing and press club performing in Malaysia
UZ Creative writing and press club performing in Malaysia

UZ Creative writing and press club performing in Malaysia

Lonias Rozvi Majoni Own Correspondent
It all began as a simple discussion in July 2015 between my colleague Paul Mavima and friend Ashley Jutas on the need for Zimbabwean youths to explore the world and learn as a step towards nation-building.

It is at that point that Ashley, a Zimbabwean student at Limkokwing University in Malaysia, brought the idea of inviting the University of Zimbabwe to the 2016 Limkokwing International Cultural Festival.

One event led to the other until finally the University of Zimbabwe Creative Writing Press Club was officially invited to represent the nation at the 2016 Limkokwing University International Cultural Festival in Malaysia.

While the idea of visiting Malaysia at first seemed very remote since the club had no funds of its own, everything else fell into place the moment faculty dean Professor Pedzisai Mashiri arranged for the Vice Chancellor Professor Levi Nyagura to meet with some executive members of the club and English Department chairperson Dr Ruby Magosvongwe.

It was during the meeting with the vice chancellor that the issue of the Malaysian invitation was raised.

Without hesitation, the vice chancellor pledged to assist in funding the trip and tasked us to come up with a tangible budget.

He however, advised us to trim the delegation to about half a dozen.

After the assurance from the vice chancellor, we then moved a gear up in contacting our Malaysian contacts comprising Zimbabwean students ambassador at Limkokwing University Ashely Ngwarai Jutas and director of talent development Moreblessing Shumba who made arrangements for our accommodation and other logistics.

For the majority of the students, it was their first time to organise a visit of such a magnitude and the excitement was heightened by the prospects of seeing our President’s call for Look East policy transcending to the cultural and educational sector through this historical exchange with fellow Malaysian students.

Although our wish was to have a 10-member delegation, including dancers, we had to trim it to only seven inclusive of our department chairperson Dr Magosvongwe.

Before departure, the vice chancellor and faculty dean stressed the need for the delegation to be good ambassadors of the best learning institution on the land and continent, as well as the great nation of Zimbabwe.

This trip was a humbling one due to a number of revelations.

It was a life changing and sensational experience for the student’s fraternity.

Of note, this was a platform for Honours in Theatre Arts students Leroy Kandeya, Melody Chamba and Privilege Gwaba to showcase their skills which they had spent years acquiring at the UZ on an international arena.

In the same vein, it was the first time for people like Lonias Rozvi, Melannia Musanhu and Brian to be versatile since they were supposed to professionally perform for the first time on stage, at a high-profile and fully-packed international arena.

In addition, diplomatic waters were tested and there was a showcase of international relations qualities as various high-profile meetings were engaged, including the meeting with Zimbabwe Ambassador to Malaysia His Excellency Cuthbert Zhakata and his deputy Mrs Rutendo Sagwete.

The delegation represented the institution and nation in an exceptional way as we not only showcased our dancing skills, but also managed to exchange notes with nationals from all the corners of the globe and give an objective picture of Zimbabwe different from the one constantly beamed on some international media outlets.

More so, the festival, which was attended by thousands of people, including representatives from 160 countries, was an amazing and wonderful event.

Of interest, the Zimbabwean team which also had a booth, designed in a way that imitated the Great Zimbabwe monument, was the centre of attraction.

Even the Malaysian director of tourism Da tuk Seri Mirza Taiyab and the University’s Vice President Ms Limkokwing could not resist but marvel at the miniature Great Zimbabwe monument and spent some minutes inquiring about the situation in Zimbabwe.

There was a thunderous applause when the Zimbabwean team stormed the stage, a few minutes after Malaysia’s hip hop artiste had just performed.

The Zimbabweans brought the house down and sent thousands into frenzy when they performed Dinhe and Mbende dances in a way that perfectly synchronised with Hope Masike’s masterpiece “Dzangu Nhamo” which played in the background.

Brazil and Syria also gave scintillating performances with the former displaying classy Samba routines which were followed by a massive uproar from the cheering fans.

Also stealing the limelight was the Swaziland team with its exciting cultural move and the Egyptians clad in exquisite gear reminiscent of ancient Egyptian Pharaohs and Queens.

Apart from splendid performances, the cultural festival proved to be a hub for networking and a platform for students to share ideas, in retrospect to various cultural and national backgrounds.

We managed to tour the Limkokwing University campus where we were exposed to a number of new exciting innovations like the magnificent Creative Arts Studio, restaurants and the fashion club which are all student driven initiatives.

In addition, all performing students were brought into one room to mix and mingle thus sharing ideas and getting to know each other.

Even Prince Mswati from Swaziland, had a delegation of friendly youths.

Of note was Pathizwe Magongo, a Swazi young man who exemplified his multilingualism by singing in Shona and also showing an intimate knowledge of Zimbabwe including footballers and musicians.

I was shocked to realise that artistes like King Shady have also become household names among a section of the African Diaspora in Malaysia.

The seven-day stay in Malaysia also exposed students to other socio-economic aspects of the country outside campus.

The country, is fast developing as characterised by the presence of skyscrapers under construction.

The Malaysian towns of Cyberjaya and Kuala Lumpur are multicultural with the dominant groups being that of Indonesians and Chinese coexisting with several nationals from across the globe.

Malaysia is like the melting pot of the world.

In general, the trip was not only a groundbreaking one but an eye opening experience which brought to the fore the fact that Zimbabwe has great talents scattered across the globe as evidence by the sterling work being done by Moreblessing Shumba and Ashely Gwarai Jutas who are talent development director and students ambassador respectively.

Other talented Zimbabwean nationals include Arnold Nkomo and Welcome Nhete who are both raising the country’s flag high working in different fields at the Malaysian university.

It was indeed a pedagogical trip as Limkokwing University proved to be a fountain of exceptional innovation and creativity.

The number one technological Institution in Malaysia also proved to be an embodiment and centre of creativity. It is through Limkokwing University that a discovery was made that innovation cannot just be confined to science but extends to all facets of education including the arts.

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