DRUMS thundered, feet pounded and the spirit of tradition soared as the Chibuku NeShamwari Traditional Dance Competitions took Tafara by storm.
With a pulsating performance of the Karanga-rooted chinyambera dance, Kuwadzana’s Green Stars Dance Group mesmerised audience and judges alike, securing their golden ticket to the Chibuku National Finals in Mutare on July 19.
Their synchronised flair and cultural authenticity not only earned them thunderous applause but they also clinched the top prize of US$2 500 at the Harare Provincial Finals, where 10 teams fiercely battled for traditional dance supremacy.
Chigwirizano stunned with its Malawi gule nyau and came second while Glen Norah’s Pasichigare Muchongoyo aces came third in a tightly-contested Chibuku neShamwari Harare Provincial Finals which were held at the Hurudza Bar Hall in Tafara on Saturday.
Chigwirizano took home US$1 500 for the second position and travelled at the back of a lorry to Chitungwiza celebrating. Pasichigare Muchongoyo dancers got US$1 000 for a third-place finish.
Each of the other seven groups, namely Shumba Mbira, Chitukuta, Kondonani, Chisoni, Akupanyira, Tasiyamariro and Karingezuva was received US$500 for participating in the competition.
They had lots of surprises in terms of costumes, dance routines and preparedness for the competition, as they all stood a chance of winning. One thing interesting to note was that five of the competitors choreographed either Zimbabwean, Zambian or Malawian gure nyau dances. Ironically, the DJs were playing gure nyau popular music renditions by Baba Harare, among others, while freestyle volunteer dancers would occasionally come to the stage.
For their efforts, they would get Chibuku T-shirts and Chibuku Beer packs. The adjudicators could only separate and rank the well-dressed performers through offences committed in singing, timing and entry and exit from the stage.
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A spokesperson of the Green Stars Dance Group said the win was a deserved harvest for their hard work.
The Green Stars is a team of youth who share life skills and entrepreneurial activities.
The team said it had impacted its community as entertainers as well as advocates for the "no to illicit drug and substance abuse" campaign.
William Ndinde, the Harare Province National Arts Council of Zimbabwe manager, said he was highly impressed with the ever-rising standards of the Chibuku NeShamwari Traditional Competitions.
He also said he was impressed by the ability of the jury to identify well-choreographed, authentic and original traditional dances as winners.
“Thanks for identifying that five groups danced gure nyau, which all reflect its historic popularity as Bantu tribes migrated from Guruuswa in the north to the south of the Sahara. The dances have been highly demystified and are now available for general entertainment.
“Congratulations to our winners, the Green Stars, and we hope they will represent Harare province well in Mutare,” said Ndinde.
Chibuku NeShamwari Traditional Dance Competitions are organised annually by a partnership among Zimbabwe National Traditional Dance Association, Chibuku, Delta Beverages and the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe.
Chibuku NeShamwari Traditional Dance National Final Competitions will be held in Mutare on July 19. Winners from the 10 provinces of Zimbabwe will clash for the US$15 000 cash prize for gold winners. Silver winners will get US$7 500, while bronze winners will walk away with US$5 000.
