Mat South wins Jikinya Dance Festival finals

Daily News

By Jeffrey Muvundusi

21 November 2011

Harare - Matjinge primary school from Matabeleland South province are the new 2011 Jikinya Dance Festival champions after they shrugged off the stiff competition from nine other contestants.

The win saw them pocket a whopping $1 500 at a colourful ceremony held at Large City Hall in the “Cultural City” of Bulawayo on Saturday.

The event, organised by the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe (NACZ) in conjunction with National Association of Primary Heads (NAPH) was this year unique in a number of ways.

Of note was the fact that it was the first time in 10 years that the event was held outside the capital.

In previous years each province would showcase an array of its own dances whereas this year there were two slots where all schools performed a set dance called amabhiza as well as a dance of own choice.

This year’s edition which happened to be the festival’s 10th anniversary ran under the theme “Expressing Zimbabwean Culture through Dance”

However, besides getting a hefty package Matjinge school, who also took with them a floating trophy, an award for a best costume as well as a participating prize of $200, seemed to have capitalised on the theme dance “Amabhiza” which is originally from their province.

The group gave a good account of themselves when they strutted out Intshomane dance as own choice dance.

It was a remarkable improvement for the Bulilima district-based school considering that the previous year at the Jikinya finals held in Harare came third position.

Speaking to the Daily News, Matjinge primary school dance coach Luscious Ncube who was on cloud nine attributed his victory to adequate research and proper demonstration to the children on how the traditional dances are carried out.

“It is because of enough research and proper demonstration to the kids how these dances are done. To assist us we also used to invite the elders in our area to further demonstrate and clarify on the originality of these dances,” said Ncube.

He however, advised other schools to stop using local commercial traditional dance group leaders saying “They knew nothing about our real traditional dance as they are only after money.”

Mashonaland Central’s Chifamba primary school who had proved popular from the onset after they showcased their dinhe dance which they did in such a sterling manner that left many concluding that they were already the victors but unfortunately they were pushed to the second position after they failed to convince the adjudicators on the most crucial theme dance.

For their effort the Guruve district based-group walked away $1 000 richer in the process providing the best drummer in the form of Freddy Ferendende.

They also got rewarded for becoming the most harmonious group and a floating trophy.

On third position were Zimburu Primary School of Mashonaland East in Goromonzi district who showcased their amazing skills in mbakumba dance,walking away with a prize money of $500.

Matabeleland North province known for their isitshikitsha dance had their representative Hlabangulo primary school in fourth position to collect $300 accompanied with a floating trophy.

However, most schools had a tough time on the theme dance which traditionally is from Matabeleland  South, a move that might have given the Matjinge pupils an edge over other participants.

According to the adjudicators the own choice dance slot had 40 marks while the theme dance had 60 marks.

Speaking during the event guest of honour, European Union ambassador Aldo Dell’ Ariccia urged the pupils to take dance seriously as it was also a source of livelihood.

“To participants, Zimbabwe’s future cultural icons and custodians, I wish to encourage you to take dance seriously. You need to take pride in your identity, your uniqueness and share with the rest of the world. Moreover, dance can also be a source of livelihood,” Ambassador Ariccia said.

Addressing the same gathering, NACZ director Elvas Mari said his organisation will ensure that the competition reaches to other provinces in the future.

“Staging the Jikinya Dance finals in Bulawayo is only the first step towards ensuring that every Zimbabwean has access to the diversity of our culture. NACZ will ensure that the arts and culture reaches all parts of the country even to the poorest of our people,” Mari said.

The Minister of Education, Sport and Culture David Coltart hailed the organisers and all the Jikinya Dance Festival stakeholders saying the move was a step ahead in preserving Zimbabwe’s culture and heritage adding that his ministry will do whatever in its capacity to safeguard the interest of cultural heritage.

Six other schools who unfortunately fell by the way side in the tightly contested event that was well coordinated and managed by Amakosi Arts Theatre included the host St Patrick’s Primary school, Tafadzwa Primary School (Mashonaland West), Matenda primary school (Midlands), Harare’s Glen View 8 Primary School, Matande primary school (Masvingo) Sakubva Primary School (Manicaland) Traditional partners, Delta Corporation and Culture Fund financially empowered the whole competition while the EU sponsored individual winners’ prizes.