Branton Matondo
This year’s Manicaland commemorations of the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe (NACZ) brainchild ‘Culture Month’ will take place in Mutasa district on a date yet to be announced.
Culture Month is an annual feat held during the month of May as a way of celebrating cultural diversity in Zimbabwe.
In an interview with TellZim News, National Arts Council of Zimbabwe (NACZ) Provincial Manager for Manicaland Caroline Makoni said that this year’s celebrations will be held in Mutasa on a date to be pronounced.
“NACZ, which happens to be the brains behind Culture Month dedicated the month of May to celebrations of cultural diversity so for this year’s edition of Culture month it’s running under the theme ‘Promoting cultural diversity, peace, and unity’. The national launch will be in Matabeleland North, Binga and then provinces country wide are going to have their own launches. So ours is penciled for Mutasa district on a date yet to be announced. We rotate these launches in seven districts that we have in the province. Last year we were in Makoni district and the year before, we were in Chimanimani.
“Barring any unforeseen challenges, the launch is definitely on this month but if it’s belated it will be early June,” said Makoni.
Zimbabwean cultural diversity has been commended for standing strong in times of sheer obstacles.
National Gallery of Zimbabwe (NGZ) Manicaland Provincial Director Elizabeth Muusha said it is important that Zimbabweans recognizes this day as it primarily reflects on who you are as a person.
“We have our way of living, from food, clothing, language, and lifestyle and we should respect regardless of the uprising alternative cultures. The arts sector is also pivotal in the preservation of our culture because they reflect our culture,” said Muusha.
Manicaland culture driven organizations are also set to join the nation in this year’s celebrations.
In their official statement Mhakwe Heritage Foundation Trust which advocates for the preservation of culture, heritage and the environment cited that though cultural diversity in Zimbabwe has faced hard-core challenges, it has managed to soldier on.
“This year’s celebrations, pinned on promoting cultural diversity, unity and peace comes at an acute time when Zimbabwean culture is surviving through a series of obstacles. Culture has proved to be resilient in the advent of exogenous influences such as slave trade, colonialism, and globalization,” read the statement by Mhakwe Trust.
