PICTURE: Tsonga/Changana traditional fishing ceremony known as Saila held in Save River
is one the main attraction of MaChangana Festival to be held at Mahenye in Chipinge South.
CULTURAL tourism is taking centre stage in the promotion of Chipinge District as a tourism destination. Two distinct galas, MaChangana Festival and Ndau Festival of Arts are taking place this weekend on Saturday 24 September.
MaChangana Festival which caters for out-of-school groups, shall be held in Mahenye communal lands under Chief Mahenye in Chipinge South. The two-day event shall end on Sunday. Ndau Festival of Arts which caters for both school and out-of-school ensembles shall be held at Bangira Village in Chikore under Chief Musikavanhu in Chipinge East.
MaChangana Festival
Established in 2010, MaChangana Festival is a brainchild of world renowned and award winning conservationist, Mr Clive Stockil of Chilo Gorge Safari Lodge. Mr Stockil has a stunning Tsonga/Changana background and speaks the vernacular language fluently owing to having spent much of his life living with the Tsonga people.
MaChangana Festival brings together Tsonga/Changana communities which surround Zimbabwe’s second largest national wildlife ornament, Gonarezhou National Park. The vast reserve is part of a peace parks project named Great Limpopo Trans-Frontier Park. The project incorporates Kruger National Park of South Africa and Limpopo National Park of Mozambique.
The first two MaChangana galas were held in Chief Sengwe’s area in Chiredzi South and in Chief Tshovani’s area in Chiredzi North in 2010 and 2011 respectively. The third edition took place in Chief Mahenye’s area in Chipinge South 2012.
Due to general elections that were taking place that year, the 2013 commemoration was deferred to the following year. The 2014 and the 2015 edition took place in Chief Gudo’s area in Chiredzi North and Chief Mahenye’s area in Chipinge South respectively.
MaChangana Festival showcases most of Tsonga culture that include a Tsonga cultural village, traditional food, traditional dressing, traditional dances and traditional hunting ceremonies. The traditional hunting (fishing) ceremony known as Saila is one of the key features of the festival. It shall be held on Sunday 25 September.
How villagers avoid being attacked by crocodiles when they enter into one of the pools of Save River to harvest fish is what makes Saila a unique tourism attraction. According to one of the MaChangana stakeholders, Mr Siyaki Mundungehama, the traditional fishing is done in a sustainable manner.
Said Mr Mundungehama: “The main theme of Saila is conservation and sharing. We portray how people should use natural resources in a sustainable manner.”
MaChangana Festival is a key feature on the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority calendar in the Lowveld. Traditional dance group winners of the previous editions of the festival were given a ticket to showcase at Harare International Carnival (HIC) in Harare. One such was Tashinga Chokoto group of Gudo who became the second best cultural at HIC in 2014.
Commenting on Tashinga Chokoto group’s winning, Mr Mundungehama said: “Our winning at the international stage is a proof that MaChangana people are rich in culture. We want people from all areas to come and witness our exclusive culture.”
Ndau Festival of the Arts
Ndau Festival of the Arts (NDAFA) is commemorating children’s tourism under the theme: “Creating rural arts venues – a step towards empowering rural children.” NDAFA’s venue, Paiyapo Arts Centre is earmarked to transform into a heritage site incorporating all Ndau cultural structures. NDAFA received a shot in the arm after being allocated a hectare of land by United Church of Christ in Zimbabwe (UCCZ) in Chikore.
PICTURE: A scene from Ndau Festival of the Arts in 2015 held at Paiyapo Arts Centre
in Bangira Village, Chikore Communal Lands under Chief Musikavanhu in Chipinge East
Having a guest of honour in the ranks of revered author of Ndau literature, Mrs Joyce Simango, who published a 90 page Ndau book titled “Zviuya zviri mberi” in 1974, NDAFA is also incorporating researchers from local universities to derive this year’s theme. The festival coordinator Mr Phillip Kusasa is optimistic that the current gala shall have a positive impact on children tourism.
Conclusion
MaChangana and Ndau Festival of the Arts are a must attend for tourists in Chipinge. Since the events shall take during a hot dry season, it is advisable that tourists consider taking with them essentials like sun hats to avoid direct sun heat. Also, those with medical conditions might consider taking own water to avoid dehydration.