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Maramure Agure winners of Harare Province Chibuku Neshamwari

Tawanda Marwizi : Arts Correspondent

Ten provinces will battle it out at Chibuku Neshamwari Traditional Dance Competition to be held at White City Stadium in Bulawayo this month end. The annual event has become the highlight of the arts calendar, creating exciting moments whenever groups battle out for honours. Last year Jerusarema Mbende Group Makarekare scooped the top prize. However, this year, the group failed to make it to the finals for the first time in two years.So far, finalists have been selected from nine provinces with Mashonaland West expected to hold their provincial finals this weekend.

Some of the groups that made it to the finals are Maramuro Agure from Harare Province, Kalawi Gure who won in Mashonaland Central. Mashonaland East will be represented by Arcturus Beni and Sekanjalao MaAfrica from Bulawayo.

Masvingo will be represented by Majukwa, Matabeleland North will have Pezhuba Pachena while Fix Changoma will represent Midlands. Manicaland will have Redwing Beni Arinoti while Matabeleland South will be represented by How Mine Beni.

The Zimbabwe National Traditional Dancers’ Association president Kenneth Kachuruka said they were happy about the progress made so far.

“Everything is going according to the plan. We have covered nine provinces so far with only one left,” he said.

Kachuruka said the competition will be tight at the final as all groups are preparing for the big day.

“They are all busy preparing for the big day that is likely to bring stiff competition,” he said.

For years the competition that

has been held in collaboration between Delta Beverages, Zimbabwe Traditional Dancers’ Association and the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe has brought not only excitement and thrills,

but respect for local culture and heritage.

It has managed to bring different dances together, giving people a glimpse of how elders used to entertain as well as convey several messages through dance.

In some social events different cultures can be identified through traditional dances.