Manor Hotel to Host Bulawayo Provincial Chibuku Neshamwari Traditional Dance Finals This Saturday

By Kudakwashe Takundwa

Bulawayo’s cultural calendar comes alive this Saturday as the prestigious Chibuku Neshamwari Traditional Dance Festival officially kickstarts its 2026 edition at Manor Hotel, setting the tone for a nationwide celebration of Zimbabwe’s rich traditional heritage.

The festival, organised through a partnership between Delta Beverages, National Arts Council of Zimbabwe and the Zimbabwe National Traditional Dancers Association, has over the years grown into a cornerstone of Zimbabwe’s traditional arts calendar, bringing together communities through music, dance, storytelling and indigenous expression.

Running under the theme “Ngoma Ngairire Shamwari, Tshay’sgubhu Mngane,” the 2026 edition places renewed focus on preserving Zimbabwe’s cultural identity while celebrating the diversity and richness of the country’s traditional dance forms.

The Bulawayo provincial finals, scheduled for 9 May, will set the pace for a nationwide programme that will see competitions staged across all ten provinces ahead of the National Finals pencilled in for 11 July 2026 at a venue yet to be announced.

Dance groups from across Bulawayo Province are expected to compete for provincial honours in what promises to be an energetic display of rhythm, colour and cultural pride.

Beyond the performances, the competition continues to provide an important platform for emerging and established traditional dance ensembles to gain national exposure.

This year’s competition also carries lucrative prize money, underscoring the growing value being placed on cultural arts in Zimbabwe. Provincial winners will receive USD2,500, while second and third-place winners will take home USD1,500 and USD1,000 respectively.

At national level, the winning group will walk away with USD15,000, with runners-up receiving USD10,000 and USD7,500.The festival remains one of Zimbabwe’s longest-running arts initiatives, playing a critical role in safeguarding indigenous performance traditions at a time when cultural preservation continues to take centre stage globally.

Last year, Sokunjalo MaAfrica Arts emerged as Bulawayo provincial champions before representing the province at the national finals, where Harare-based Green Stars claimed the ultimate title.