MUTARE- Buoyant Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services outfit,
Chivaraidze dance group, which is based at Chipinge prison, has been invited to
perform in Portugal on a date that will be communicated by the organisers.
The group impressed the aspiring King Happy Ngungunyana Nxumalo, who
witnessed their performance at the commemorations of the late King
Ngungunyana at Ngungunyana farm recently.
It is the impressive performance put up by the outfit that attracted viewers from
as far as Portugal and has seen arrangements being made for their trip to
perform in Portugal.
Sports officer in the Ministry of Sports, Recreation, Art and Culture, Martin
Sithole said three traditional dance groups from Chipinge have drawn global
attention to the cultural heritage of the Chipinge region following the hosting of
the memorial commemorations of the late King Ngungunayana Nxumalo.
“Every year special commemorations are held at Ngungunyana Farm in
memory of King Ngungunyana who fought relentlessly against Portuguese
occupation of Gaza an area that covers parts of Zimbabwe, Mozambique and
South Africa. At these commemorations performances are put up by various
traditional groups in celebration of their history and culture. It is when videos of
the last year’s commemorations were shared with audiences in Portugal that a
request was made for the dance groups to perform live in Portugal,” said Mr
Sithole.
The ZPCS Chivaraidze group will be joined by Ferera Traditional Dance Group
and Sikanda Traditional Dance Group from Chipinge on their trip to Europe.
Ngungunyane also known as Mudungazi was born around 1850 in the territory
of the southeast African Gaza Empire. His grandfather Manukosi ruled over a
vast territory. At its peak it stretched from the Incomati river in the south and
the Indian Ocean in the east to the Zambezi and Save rivers in the north,
covering much of what is today Mozambican territory, as well as parts of
Zimbabwe and South Africa.
Ngungunyane would become the last Gaza king before the empire was defeated
by the Portuguese. He died December 23rd, 1906, while in exile on Terceira
Island.
Happy Ngungunyana Nxumalo has been traced to be of the royal lineage of the
late King Ngungunyane and is set to take up chieftainship in the land of his
forefathers.
Chief Correctional Officer (CCO), Liberty Mhlanga, the Public Relations
Officer for ZPCS Manicaland Province, said that it was an honour for the group
to tour Portugal.
The outfit consists of inmates and prison officers specialising in ‘muchongoyo’
dances.
CCO Mhlanga said the opportunity will help them to reintegrate inmates into
the society after completing their sentences.
Chivaraidze last year represented Manicaland at the Chibuku Neshamwari
competition s after the group out danced eight other groups in the province.
