PICTURE: Muchongoyo is marketable to both domestic and foreign tourists like what Garahwa Muchongoyo Group did at Harare International Festival of Arts. Insert Muchongoyo promoters Mrs Marcia Moyana (left) and Mr Phillip Kusasa (right)
MUchongoyo is a traditional dance found in Chipinge, Chimanimani, Chiredzi and Buhera districts of Zimbabwe. It has its following in the southern part of Mozambique. Muchongoyo identifies especially the Ndau people but to a lesser extent the Tsonga (Shangani) people. In Tsonga it is called Muchongolo.
Although scholars say the Ndau borrowed the traditional dance from Zululand, most Ndau people dispute it.
“I’m challenging you to visit communities even in Zululand and see if you can find Muchongoyo there,” said James Garahwa, an aide to Chief Garahwa of Chipinge South.
Muchongoyo is derived from kuchongoya which means stomping of feet in Ndau. Historically, Muchongoyo was a war dance performed to instill discipline into warriors before a war and to celebrate victory after the war; thus the forceful stomping of feet.
Nowadays the dance is performed to provide entertainment at events such as traditional weddings, installation of chiefs, celebrating good harvest, keeping physical fitness and dating or in memory of a deceased dancer. Unlike other dances, Muchongoyo does not have any religion inclination.
Muchongoyo is performed by both males and females. The males do the dancing as the females provide lyrics to motivate the dancers.
The dance has a cow horn formation. It usually composes of eight males and eight females. The females form the back row as two male drum beaters stand in the middle and six male dancers constitute the front row.
The dance begins with a lead man known as chikopo performing an introductory solo act called mungeneso. He blows a whistle giving directions of the performance. The females join by singing and clapping hands.
A drum beat follows. The next stage is chibhubhubhu which is performed in unison (choreography) and anyone who stomps differently would be regarded as an outcast. After a while, dancers would fall down as a gimmick to take a breather. Two females then dance rhythmically bringing in refreshments (if available) or come with small cloth to remove sweat and fan the dancers as the others six females would cheer to motivate the dancers.
After the choreography acts, the dancers would perform what is called chigiyo. This is when dancers show individual skills as solo or duets. Finally, they perform mubudiso to exit.
The dancers perform dressed in traditional costume which includes, for males; mbikiza and vests on the body, either ngututu or feathers on the head, zvihlabvu or machoba on the legs and arms, manyatera (sandals) on the feet.
For females; maqeyo on the head, zvipetu (combs) in the hair, ketani (tie) on the body, matimwa (multi-coloured beads) in the neck, madhuku (doiks) on the chest to cover breasts, chikisa (coloured mini-skirts), and matuza (aluminium rings) in the arms.
A lot of effort has been made to promote Muchongoyo in social circles. It started in the 1960 and 70s when wealthy people called Makorwa organised Muchongoyo galas in the communities. The groups would compete for trophies a little as a handkerchief.
At the turn of the millennium, businessman-cum-politician Mr Wilson Kumbula introduced galas for out-of-school groups that were held every Sunday at Checheche in Chipinge south. Half a decade later, another businessman-cum-politician Mr Enock Porusingazi introduced a parallel out-of-school group gala.
The two galas were followed by the birth of another gala by the name Mtetwa Wamuka Cultural Symposium promoted by Mrs Marcia Moyana, wife to the former governor of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, Dr Kombo Moyana. It catered mainly for school children.
In 2013 a gala by the name Ndau Festival of the Arts (NDAFA) coordinated by Mr Phillip Kusasa was also established. It catered for both school and out-of-school groups in Chipinge east.
In 2013, Mrs Moyana took Muchongoyo to greater heights enabling Garahwa Muchongoyo to showcase in Harare; twice at Harare International Festival of Arts (HIFA) and once at Sam Levy Village in Borrowdale.
The reception that Muchongoyo got at the two venues is a clear testimony that Muchongoyo is a pure domestic tourism product.
Said Mrs Moyana: “We would like Muchongoyo to be showcased locally and in foreign lands and also come witness our unique culture here.”
Last year’s edition of NDAFA which operated under a strained budget was held at Paiyepo Arts Centre in Bangira village in Chikore communal lands under Chief Musikavanhu in Chipinge.
It was a graced by the permanent secretary in the ministry in of Rural Development, Preservation and Promotion of Culture and Heritage, Dr Thokozile Chitepo. She was impressed by the richness of Muchongoyo.
Said Dr Chitepo on the sidelines of the gala: I’m impressed with women’s participation in promoting our culture. I wish to see both local and international tourists flocking to this place every weekend to enjoy Muchongoyo.”