Entertainment / Arts
Bulawayo dance group 'Umkhathi' takes Chibuku crown
16 Sep 2013 at 05:54hrs | Views
BULAWAYO-based traditional dance group, Umkhathi Theatre Works were crowned this year's winners of the annual Chibuku Neshamwari Traditional Dance national finals held in Harare on Saturday.
They shrugged off stiff competition from nine other groups after they showcased a neat and well perfected Tswana traditional dance which won the hearts of everyone present at Harare Gardens.
All the groups that took part in the competition showcased nimble footwork and well orchestrated dance moves but there could only be one winner.
For coming first in the competition, the group received $4 000. In second place was Guruve Marimba Dance Group from Mashonaland Central while Rarira Dendera from Mashonaland East came third and took home $3 000 and $2 000 respectively.
Helped by the appreciative crowd, the groups were pushed to their limits but responded well to the electrifying atmosphere which fans built around the arena.
Fans were treated to dances such as Jerusalema, Muchongoyo, Setapa, Dinhe and Mbakumba among others. During a break, Albert Nyathi entertained the audience with poems and introduced a piece of his new book with a poem titled My Son. His poem Senzeni na? proved popular with fans who begged him to perform it for them.
In an interview Umkhathi group leader Joseph Ngubo said he was a happy man and congratulated all the groups that took part and encouraged them not to lose heart but to keep going.
"I am happy and the whole group is happy and relieved that we have finally won this competition. We have been here three or four times. In 2011, we came second but this time our dream has come true. I thank Delta, Zimbabwe National Traditional Dancers Association (ZNTDA) and everyone involved for giving us this chance," he said.
Delta marketing manager Patricia Murambinda thanked fans for the support they showed during this year's golden jubilee finals, which made the event extra special.
The Chibuku Neshamwari Traditional Dance Competition begun in 1963. It is a competition aimed at promoting and developing ethnic traditional dances in Zimbabwe.
The event is coordinated by the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe, facilitated by the Zimbabwe Traditional Dancers Association and sponsored by Delta Beverages through the Chibuku brand.
They shrugged off stiff competition from nine other groups after they showcased a neat and well perfected Tswana traditional dance which won the hearts of everyone present at Harare Gardens.
All the groups that took part in the competition showcased nimble footwork and well orchestrated dance moves but there could only be one winner.
For coming first in the competition, the group received $4 000. In second place was Guruve Marimba Dance Group from Mashonaland Central while Rarira Dendera from Mashonaland East came third and took home $3 000 and $2 000 respectively.
Helped by the appreciative crowd, the groups were pushed to their limits but responded well to the electrifying atmosphere which fans built around the arena.
In an interview Umkhathi group leader Joseph Ngubo said he was a happy man and congratulated all the groups that took part and encouraged them not to lose heart but to keep going.
"I am happy and the whole group is happy and relieved that we have finally won this competition. We have been here three or four times. In 2011, we came second but this time our dream has come true. I thank Delta, Zimbabwe National Traditional Dancers Association (ZNTDA) and everyone involved for giving us this chance," he said.
Delta marketing manager Patricia Murambinda thanked fans for the support they showed during this year's golden jubilee finals, which made the event extra special.
The Chibuku Neshamwari Traditional Dance Competition begun in 1963. It is a competition aimed at promoting and developing ethnic traditional dances in Zimbabwe.
The event is coordinated by the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe, facilitated by the Zimbabwe Traditional Dancers Association and sponsored by Delta Beverages through the Chibuku brand.
Source - Chronicle
