Bulawayo hosts Chibuku Festival

Ngoma Dzepasi celebrate after winning the the Chibuku Neshamwari Traditional Dance Festival last year.

BULAWAYO is set to host the national finals of the Chibuku Neshamwari traditional dance festival for the first time in over 30 years.

This year’s festival is the 52nd edition of the competition and will be held at White City Stadium this Saturday.
Groups will be drawn from the country’s 10 provinces where teams will vie for the top accolade of the country’s most popular and longest running festival.
The winners of the national competitions will walk away with US$4000 cash.
Delta Beverages, the country’s biggest brewer, began sponsoring the popular competition at its inception in 1963.
The competition is run as a tripartite partnership amongst Delta Beverages through the Chibuku brand, its technical partners National Arts Council of Zimbabwe and the Zimbabwe Traditional Dance Association.
“As a Zimbabwean company, we value the privilege of promoting and celebrating our culture and heritage, which is all part of what it means to be proudly Zimbabwean to us,” said Delta Beverages’ marketing manager, Patricia Murambinda.
“Through our Chibuku brand, we have been committed to the arts for over 50 years as Delta Beverages.”
Murambinda promised a fun filled event saying: “Chibuku is the people’s beer, and the national competition (in Bulawayo) is the place to be this year. Our consumers will enjoy great entertainment, free of charge and get to interact with their favorite brand in a safe environment”.
The competition comes at a time when Delta Beverages is increasing its footprint through the popular brand Chibuku Super that has a shelf life of more than 21 days and the traditional 2L Scud that has stood the test of time.
The competition will be an opportunity for lucky imbibers to sample the fast selling product.
Also lined up at the national finals for the public is the launch of the exciting 2015 Chibuku Super Cup traders and consumer promotion.
The promotion will run for 3 months until the 25th of October 2015. Up for grabs is a Nissan Urva “16 seater” bus.
There will be a final draw for the just ended Chibuku Take 2 Consumer and Traders promotion. The first prize of the draw is US$20,000.00.
A full list of groups competing at this year’s national finals;
1. Makarekare dance group Mashonaland East Mbende
2. Jahunda Com Arts Matebeleland South Umchongoyo
3. Gango group Masvingo Mbende
4. Budiriro Arts Mashonaland West Chinyambera
5. Wundi Zambia Nyawo Midlands Zambia Nyawo
6. Shingayi dance group Harare Chinyambera
7. Umkhankaso wamajaya Matebeleland North Umchongoyo
8. Dhumatasangana dance group Manicaland Mbende
9. Zimnyama dance group Bulawayo Umchongoyo
10. Chinyakare dance group Mashonaland Central Dinhe