Jikinya Dance Festival returns

Zim Now Writer

The return of the Jikinya Dance Festival, which underwent a two-year hiatus occasioned by the Covid-19 pandemic, is back with the national finals scheduled for November 24 at Winery Hall in the Midlands capital, Gweru.

Involving over 5 000 primary schools in Zimbabwe, the competition is a permanent fixture on the school calendar.

The schools compete at district, provincial and national levels every year.

National Arts Council of Zimbabwe (NACZ) communication and marketing manager Rodney Ruwende said the festival, which is being held in partnership with the National Association of Primary Heads (NAPH), will run under the theme “Building Zimbabwe through dance, our Heritage is our Identity”.

“The theme speaks to the importance of dance in showcasing who we are as Zimbabweans. This theme calls for the nation to appreciate and perform Zimbabwean traditional dances thus promoting, safeguarding and showcasing our cultural heritage,” said Ruwende.

Dances such as Muchongoyo, Jerusarema, Mbakumba, and isiTshikitsha among others will be on show and they reflect some authentic traditional aspects of a particular ethnic, religious or cultural group in Zimbabwe.