The ManicaPost
Freedom Mutanda Post correspondent
Over a thousand people thronged Bangira village in Chief Musikavanhu area recently as the Paiyapo Arts Centre reverberated to the sounds of Ndau drums belting out muchongoyo, chokoto and amandlozi beats as NDAFA (Ndau Festival of the Arts) showed why the event has become an annual fest of the celebration of Ndau culture.
Gaza Primary School, Gideon Mhlanga, Chikore and Chibuwe High Schools were some of the schools that attended. Mutendi High School, with its high performing brass band came and the crowd literally ate from its hand as the boisterous young men performed the ZCC dances. It was a truly thrilling spectacle and a local kraal head, Maxwell Jenya, praised the organizers.‘’
A people are distinct from others because of their peculiar culture. It is important to thank the organisers of the festival as children and adults mingled in celebrating their culture,’’ the traditional leader said.
Academics came in droves for the festival to capture the cultural aspects of the Ndau people as they interviewed elderly people. There was a competition where students placed Ndau words against Shona words. For example, kuhlonipa (respect) is a common word among the ethnic Ndaus.A Great Zimbabwe University academic, Dr Fortune Sibanda, said it was good to come ‘home’ and mix with people as they celebrated the arts in their homeland.
“Some academics are here in their project to reclaim the Ndau culture. Constitutional Amendment (20) of 2013 categorized Ndau as a minority language that needs to be taught. Therefore, it is incumbent upon us as academics to be physically present when such festivals are on,’’ said Dr Fortune Sibanda.
The organiser, Philip Kusasa was happy with the outcome.
“This has been without doubt, the best NDAFA ever and we want to build on its success for future festivals,’’ he said.
