Rumbidzai Mhlanga, Sunday Life Reporter
NATIONAL Arts Council of Zimbabwe launched the Culture Week celebrations in Bulawayo last Wednesday at Entumbane Hall with Minister of State for Provincial Affairs in Bulawayo Judith Ncube as a guest of honour.
This year’s celebrations run under the theme, “African Royalty Our Heritage”, which encourages Zimbabwe to promote, commemorate and uphold different cultures. It is also an attempt to gather communities to celebrate culture and growth.
In her welcoming speech National Arts Council of Zimbabwe Bulawayo director Charity Nyathi said; “With reference to Zimbabwe the celebrations that run for a week assume national outlook that enables the nation to reflect on its culture. Culture week activities this year will revolve around the diverse traditional dances and other art forms both performing and non-performing depicting important cultural ceremonies.”
The Culture Week which this year is dedicated to honouring female artistes and hence the first performance was from the only female acclaimed Nobuntu imbube group which warmed the stage with their marvellous Imbube melodies.
The director had a special welcome for one of the oldest women group Thandanani Women’s Ensemble.
“As it is the day for women we called the Thandanani Women’s Ensemble, one of the oldest art groups which has soldiered on regardless of economic times but were determined and continued with their journey,” added Nyathi
To spice up the festivities there were also performances from the Thandanani Women’s Ensemble which is well known and honoured for the role they play in preserving the African Culture and to the close the celebrations for the day was Ezimnyama Dance Group.
Minister of State for Provincial Affairs in Bulawayo Judith Ncube condemned the way artistes were looked down upon.
“The art industry is not recognised as an industry that should generate income hence even if we hire them to perform to our activities we want to give them peanuts, not realising it is their source of income.
“We as people of Bulawayo should stand up and defend what we have as a city and as a country by supporting each other, recognise and appreciate what they are doing because if we do not do that we are destroying the talent we have.”