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Samba dancers at a Brazilian carnival

Own Correspondent

Officials from the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority and top entertainment player Devine Assignments last week attended Sao Paulo carnival in Brazil where there was a historic launch of a theme based on Zimbabwe for the carnival’s 2017 edition. Organisers of the carnival unveiled the theme “Mother Africa tells her story: From the cradle of humankind to the blessed land of the Great Zimbabwe” that will drive next year’s festival where some Zimbabwean participants are set to take part.The launch of the theme was witnessed by Devine Assignments director Biggie Chinoperekwei and officials from the ZTA at Tautape headquarters at Melo Peixeto Street in Sao Paulo on Saturday.

Tautape Headquarters is the home of Academicos do Tautape Samba School.

Music that will be used at the carnival next year will be inspired by Zimbabwean sounds and traditions.

Speaking from Sao Paulo, Chinoperekwei said the occasion proved to be a great opportunity to market Zimbabwe as a tourist destination and to strengthen the country’s ties with Brazil, which throws the biggest carnivals in the world.

“This was definitely worth it. Zimbabwe’s connections with Brazil, especially through carnivals is beginning to bear fruit not only in strengthening our own carnival back home but in promoting Zimbabwe as a tourist destination.

“We have learnt a lot and continue to benefit from the experience that the Brazilians have in hosting these events.

“Now that they have fully put us on the map, not just as a mere participant at their carnivals but as central theme of the event here in Sao Paulo, makes it even more beneficial to us as entertainment players in Zimbabwe and the country at large,” said Chinoperekwei.

Chinoperekwei’s Devine Assignments has hosted the Samba Night at the Harare International Carnival twice, in 2014 and 2015 where dancers from Brazil took part.

Daniel Okamoto, one of the organisers of the Sao Paulo carnival described the partnership with Zimbabwe as “fundamental in keeping economic, cultural and tourist development”.

“After the meeting and partnership agreed in Seychelles during the Victoria International Carnival a few years ago, we started implementing several actions that we agreed on. Zimbabwe was chosen as official theme for the Tautape parade.

“We launched the theme for the media and designers responsible for the visual parade already began to draw and fabricate the first costumes and floats with Zimbabwe as inspiration,” said Okamoto.