THE 2014 edition of the Chibuku Neshamwari Traditional Dance Festival and Competition will kick off next month with various traditional dance groups set to battle it out at their respective provinces to get the sole ticket to the national finals to be held later during the year. DIVINE DUBE Own Correspondent
The annual traditional dance contest is sponsored by Delta Beverages and the event is organised by the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe (NACZ) in partnership with the Zimbabwe National Traditional Dance Association (ZNTDA).
Registration for the festival is open at all provincial arts council offices with the deadline being March 16.
A preliminary statement seen by Southern Eye Lifestyle yesterday indicated that the subscription fee for new groups is $40, registration fee $50, certificate fee $10, and entry fee $20 while old groups will pay $40 subscription fee, $10 certificates fee and $60 entry fee.
Delta Beverages could not immediately confirm the prize money for this year’s competitions.
ZNTDA representative for Bulawayo, Trust Madolo Gumbo who is the director of Bulawayo-based traditional dance outfit Kwabatsha Dance Company urged all traditional groups in Matabeleland to register to participate at the competitions.
“Bulawayo will be hosting the competition on May 3. In your own, try to mobilise groups in your neighbourhoods, youth centres, halls and anywhere you can find them. Mthwakazi must participate in big and larger numbers,” he said.
Bulawayo’s Umkhathi Theatre won the 2013 edition of the dance contest and walked away with $4 000 after a stiff yet tantalising competition held at Harare Gardens.
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Meanwhile, dates for the provincial finals released by the organisers of the festival yesterday are as follows:
- March 29 — Mashonaland East, UMP
- April 5 2014 — Midlands, Kwekwe
- April 12 2014 — Masvingo
- April 19 2014 — Mashonaland West, Chegutu
- April 26 2014 — Matabeleland North, Binga
- May 3 2014 — Bulawayo, Manor Hotel
- May 10 2014 — Matabeleland South, Plumtree
- May 17 — Manicaland, Chipinge
- May 31 2013 — Mashonaland Central, Glendale, Mazowe
- June 7 2014 — Harare, Mbare.
