Lovemore Meya Arts Correspondent
About 25 artistes drawn from different cultures and speaking various dialects in the country will be part of the “Senzeni Na?/What Have We Done?” team to tour the country on a cultural entertainment programme led by Albert Nyathi.
The first launch of the tour will take place this Friday at the Book Cafe with Bulawayo being the next port of call on September 26 and 27 before the team embarks on a national tour.
The main purpose of the launch is to address issues of fragmentation between languages and cultures through the powerful uniting medium of art.
The concept is hinged on Nyathi’s yesteryear hit “Senzeni Na?”
Nyathi said, “We have already auditioned musicians and dancers representing various cultures, languages and dialects spoken in the country including Kalanga, Tonga, Venda, Xhosa, Shona, Sotho, Nambia, Ndebele and English among others.
“This is in respect and recognition of the UNESCO Declaration on Cultural Diversity (2005) of which Zimbabwe is signatory and of the Constitution of Zimbabwe that enshrines rights of cultural diversity and expression.”
Nyathi added that the production will be choreographed to match international standards and will tour a number of towns and cities in the country until next year before going international.
“The tour of the country’s 10 provinces will spread over five months with its broad itinerary starting in December this year for a few venues around the country until April 2015 in preparation for the European tour,” said Nyathi.
From May to August next year, the team will tour United Kingdom and Europe while from September to December local audiences will be in for another treat.
“This production is being produced by Imbongi Ats in collaboration with Pamberi Trust and Nhimbe Trust.
Its objectives are to create national landmark events around the Senzeni Na? anniversary that results in national level debate, dialogue and awareness around issues of cultural fragmentation, cultural diversity.
“The need is to re-link our Zimbabwean communities, in this case through a cultural platform, culture being the most effective medium of social cohesion and integration,” said Nyathi.
To conceive, produce and stage an international level production that is genuinely representative of the diverse cultures and expressions of Zimbabwe.