Harare, (New Ziana) -Zimbabwe will later this month host the second edition of the Bira reMbira Festival, a vibrant cultural celebration honouring the recent United Nations Educational and Scientific Organisation (UNESCO) recognition of the mbira and sansi as part of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in both Zimbabwe and Malawi.
Festival manager Benjamin Nyandoro confirmed that the event will take place on Saturday, September 27 at the Heritage Village in Harare under the theme: “Our Identity, Our Pride – Engraving Our Culture and Heritage Through Generations.”
“The festival is more than just an event, it is a living archive of our cultural identity, a celebration of who we are as Zimbabweans and Africans,” he said in a statement. This year the edition coincides with the designation of September as the ‘Mbira Month’, reflecting the country’s efforts to safeguard and promote indigenous knowledge systems and traditions.
Attendees can expect a showcase of diverse cultural exhibitions including traditional foods, games, practices, and crafts, as well as the mbira, marimba, ngoma, hosho and other indigenous instruments.
Running from 9 AM on Saturday through to 6 AM on Sunday, the festival promises a dynamic program of both indoor and outdoor performances. Highlights include a collaborative theme song composed and recorded by primary and secondary school music groups at the Zimbabwe College of Music, designed to deepen cultural literacy and inspire future creative careers.
On stage, audiences will be treated to a powerful line-up of celebrated local and regional acts, among them Samaita neMbira DzeNharira, Nyamasvisva Nemaungira eNharira, Jah Prayzah, Feli Nandi, Andy Muridzo, Sasha Madhuve, Virimai Vee Mhofu, Pauline Gundidza, and many others.
A special guest mbira/sansi ensemble from Malawi will also perform, symbolising cross-border cultural ties under the UNESCO recognition. Nyandoro added that the festival is a free-to-the-public calendar event, open to all Zimbabweans, the diplomatic community, partners and friends, promising a rich experience “anchored on our intangible cultural heritage.”
The inaugural Bira reMbira Festival in 2024 drew thousands to Gwanzura Stadium in Highfield, and organisers expect this year’s celebration to surpass that success.
New Ziana
