News & Updates Artist Focus Shangano Arts Festival bring cultural interaction to Matabeleland North In Video
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Shangano Arts Festival bring cultural interaction to Matabeleland North
Hwange Residents last year witnessed the successful hosting of a recently renamed arts festival, Shangano Arts Festival. Hitherto known as the Hwange Urban Arts Festival. The new look arts extravaganza brought together artists from Hwange and the rest of Matabeleland North and Bulawayo Provinces.
common vision for a common purpose.
Shangano is a Nambya word for “meeting” and is rich in historical and cultural meaning.
The Nyai, today known as the Nambya, migrated from Masvingo in the 14th century under the leadership of Chief Chireya, Chief Nkoka and Chief Nemangwe. During their trek to the North West of Zimbabwe, they came into contact with the Leya (Tonga).not far from the Gwayi River at a place called Shangano. Thus the significance of the festival’s name
The opening night ceremony was held at the Lwendulu Hall and bringing together several stakeholders including; The Hwange Colliery Company, National Arts Council of Zimbabwe, Ministry of Education Sport and Culture, Environment Africa, the Rural District Council and the District Administrator’s Office.
The guest of honour at the opening ceremony, cultural icon Chief Nekatambe applauded Hwange Urban Arts Association for coming up with an apt name for the festival. He encouraged the Hwange Community to work together in upholding Arts and Culture and showcase the untapped talent in the region.
The night’s festivities kicked off with group after group taking to the stage to entertain the fans who jam packed the Lwendulu Hall. Featuring among others, the winners of the Regional Music Cross Roads, Koomboka.
The second day of the festival gave artists an opportunity to highlight the challenges they face and try to come up with working solutions.
The afternoon was taken up by theatre productions by Dragline Productions, Backstage Theatre Promotions and Inkwali Productions in the region.
The Culture Fund would like to congratulate the Hwange Urban Arts Association on a job well executed and hopes 2009 will bring better tidings for this festival and other artistic productions.
The Culture Fund would like to encourage stakeholders to submit application forms in time for the first cycle of assessment likely to take place early within the first quarter of 2009
Application forms can be obtained and returned to the Culture Fund offices at 51 Harvey Brown Milton Park or Provincial Arts Managers at the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe and Provincial Cultural Officers at the Ministry of Education, Sports and Culture.
