The Chibuku Neshamwari Traditional Dance Festival returned to Mutare this year with a vibrant celebration of Zimbabwean dance traditions and a new national champion.
Green Stars Dance Troupe, representing Harare Province, claimed first place with an energetic performance of the Chinyambera dance, earning them the top prize of USD15,000.
Held at the lively Mutare Showgrounds, the finals brought together 10 provincial winners in a closely contested battle of rhythm and heritage.
Goromonzi Arts Club from Mashonaland East took second place with their powerful rendition of the Mbende Jerusarema dance, securing USD10,000.
Host province Manicaland celebrated a podium finish with Semvumba Arts’ Dinhe performance, which earned them third place and USD7,500.
This marked the first time Mutare hosted the national finals since 2018. That year, the festival partnered with DreamStar to introduce an element of pop culture by incorporating modern dance styles, a move aimed at engaging younger audiences.
Although this year’s edition focused squarely on traditional performances, Mutare still brought its signature flair, with a high-energy after-show featuring top artists Alick Macheso, Jah Prayzah and Enzo Ishall.
The festival continues to serve as a powerful platform for preserving and celebrating Zimbabwe’s diverse cultural heritage, while offering dance groups from across the country a moment to shine on the national stage.
Check out some of the highlights below:
@zimbuzz Kune vanoziva, madzimai anoshaura panotamba Gure/Nyau anonzi kudii (in the video is Undi Gure from Midlands) #ChibukuNeshamwariTraditionalDanceFestival
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