THE Jikinya Dance Festival, an annual event that showcases the diverse cultural heritage of Zimbabwe through dance, is set to return this month with a focus on the mhande, a local traditional dance.
The festival, which is open to all primary schools in Zimbabwe, will feature provincial finals starting in the second week of October, with the national finals taking place in Bindura, Mashonaland Central Province, on October 26.
Mhande is an indigenous Zimbabwean song-dance performed by the Karanga people, who live mostly in the Midlands and Masvingo provinces.
The dance is performed as part of the mutoro and kurova guva ceremonies, which are important cultural rituals for the Karanga people.
“The performance of mhande at the Jikinya Dance Festival is a significant event for the preservation of Zimbabwean cultural heritage,” said National Arts Council of Zimbabwe (NCAZ) spokesperson Rodney Ruwende.
“The dance is a vital aspect of Karanga culture, and it serves as an artistic expression of the values and beliefs of the Karanga people.
“Mhande is also a key link between the living and the ancestral spirits.
“It is performed at ceremonies such as kurova guva and mutoro, which represent the settlement of ancestral spirits and rain-making rituals, respectively.”
The Jikinya Dance Festival is an important event for the promotion of cultural diversity and understanding in Zimbabwe, added Ruwende.
He said it was also a valuable opportunity for young people to learn about and appreciate the country's rich cultural heritage.
The performance of mhande at the Jikinya Dance Festival is a positive development for the preservation of Zimbabwean cultural heritage.
It is also a valuable opportunity for young people from all over Zimbabwe to learn about and appreciate the Karanga culture.
The festival is organized by NACZ and the National Association of Primary Heads with the support of Delta Beverages Zimbabwe.
Over 5000 primary schools are expected to participate in the 2023 festival.