Cultural Hero Pathisa Nyathi sets up Cultural Village

Veteran historian and cultural expert, Pathisa Nyathi, has set up a cultural heritage village called Amagugu International at White-waters business centre in Matopo District.
He will be working with Lupane State University on some of the village's projects.
In an interview, Nyathi said the centre, which is about 60 km out of Bulawayo along the Kezi Road, is within the Matopo World Heritage site. He said the centre, which is already under construction, will have two toilet blocks, craft and industry, research office, curio shop, an exhibition hall, kitchen and restaurant when finished.
The toilet blocks, craft and industry areas are already complete.
"Except for the craft and industry areas the rest of the buildings will be rondavels, with a conical thatch in line with African architecture," Nyathi said.
He said the heritage centre, which will offer locals villagers work, will be involved in cultural heritage research, among other areas of specialisation.
Some of the artworks that the centre will produce would include wooden artifacts like spoons, ceramics, pottery, iron workings, and leather craft, like tanned animal skins.
The village will also hold cultural activities and performances, as there will be an arena for live performances.
He, however, said these will be a tiny fraction of the activities, as documentation and preservation will be their mainstay.
The arts guru said on the performance part there would also be looking at poetry, Amabhiza, which the area is famed for, traditional games like iguni/tsoro and pada for children.
The project will create livelihoods for locals and also engender in them a spirit of preserving the country's heritage.