Muzite Muchongoyo Group in action
NDAU Festival of the Arts (NDAFA), a cultural event that took place last Saturday at Paiyepo Arts Development and Heritage Centre in Bangira Village of Chikore communal lands under Chief Musikavanhu in Chipinge East is key in marketing the area’s tourism.
Chipinge, a town which came to life in the 1950s, has been renowned for being the only place which one can find all Natural Farming Regions (Region 1-5). The upper part of the district common referred as “Kumatunhu” is made up of Chipinge East, Central and North.
Popular for its natural forests as well as wood, coffee, tea and macadamia nut plantations, “Kumatunhu” boasts of The Big Tree of Chirinda Forest which is rated the largest indigenous red mahogany tree in Southern Africa and the second largest tree in Africa.
Crops like maize, sweet potatoes, fruits like bananas, and dairy farming is also found in that part. In tourism, Chirinda Forest’s Big Tree has a tired marketing strategy and is no longer that attractive to the international world.
The hot-dry lower valley of Chipinge commonly referred to as “Gowa” comprises of Chipinge West and South and is known for wildlife as well as livestock, cotton, sorghum and sugarcane farming. In tourism, “Gowa” is home to Chipinge and Mahenye safari areas.
History has it that promotion of Muchongoyo and Chokoto dances in social circles dates back to the 1960s when people of status called Makorwa funded such galas in their communities. The groups would compete for trophies as little as a handkerchief.
Fast forward to the turn of the millennium, names of businessmen and politicians such as Messrs Wilson “Kujokochera” Kumbula and Enock Porusingazi and Mrs Marcia Moyana became synonymous with Muchongoyo promotion in Chipinge South.
It is in 2013 that a fete by the name Ndau Festival of the Arts (NDAFA) coordinated by Mr Phillip Kusasa came into the arena. While Porusingazi and Kumbula focused on community and Moyana concentrated on school groups, NDAFA incorporated both.
Mrs Marcia Moyana, wife to the former governor of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, Dr Kombo Moyana’s Mtetwa Wamuka Cultural Symposium should be credited for scoring a first by taking Muchongoyo to international platforms.
In 2013, Garahwa Primary School Muchongoyo under Mtetwa Wamuka Symposium managed to showcase in Harare; twice at Harare International Festival of Arts (HIFA) and once at Sam Levy Village in Borrowdale.
This day, NDAFA is reliving that dream. Instead of travelling to other parts of the country to showcase, Ndau Festival of the Arts is making people tour to Chipinge to consume undiluted Ndau and Tsonga (Shangaan) cultures.
This year’s edition which ran under the theme: “Taking oral tradition into the digital world,” saw three institution of higher learning; Midlands State University, Great Zimbabwe University and Ezekiel Guti University showcase at the festival.
According to the coordinator of NDAFA, Mr Phillip Kusasa, the 2017 edition curved a niche in tourism. Said Mr Kusasa: The touring of dignitaries, mass media and universities to Chipinge is key in our efforts to document African culture.”
The event was graced by the Provincial Administrator for Manicaland Mr Edgars Seenza and the Principal Director in the Ministry of Rural Development, Promotion and Preservation of National Culture and Heritage Dr Biggie Samwanda who stood in for the Permanent Secretary Dr George Magosvongwe.
In his speech, Dr George Magosvongwe said: “I appeal to all traditional leaders to embrace digital culture because our culture will remain safe if proper records are put in place. This centre by virtue of holding such a grand event has a potential to become a World Class Heritage Centre for research if we all contribute equally to the cause.”
True, Ndau Festival of the Arts is a potential marketing tool for Chipinge tourism.