By Lovemore Chazingwa (News Correspondent)
BULAWAYO – Entumbane Hall today plays host to City of Bulawayo’s launch of this year’s Culture Week, feeding into full blown 125 years of existence of the conservative territory, Spiked Online Media has learnt.
In press statement obtained from the office of the public relations office, City of Bulawayo will take its culture week launch to the ceremonial Entumbane Hall from 9am to 5pm setting the stage for a full day of celebrating culture in a dress rehearsal of the momentous headline festivities culminating to June 1. The city commemorates 125 years of resilience, domination, strength under the hashtags #BYO125, #Reimagine Bulawayo and #Masiyephambili. Cultural dances like Imbube and Inqcuzu will be on display.
“The first event of the celebrations will be the launch of the Culture Week at Entumbane Hall on Wednesday May 22 2019 (today), from 09:00hrs-17:00hrs,” said the statement.
All residents and those with a link or attachment to the City of Kings are invited to be part of a wholesale of events to be dished out as the city celebrates 125 years of existence.
“The City of Bulawayo is inviting all residents to participate in all the events to be held in commemoration of Bulawayo at 125,” the statement added.
Today’s Culture Week launch feeds into the national programme torched by his Excellency the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Cde Emmerson Mnangagwa at Glamis Arena in the capital.
Support launches are still going on as the nation recognises culture at the highest level.
However, the radar is pointed at the City of Kings since this is another opportunity to parade to the local and outsider why it is the culture hub of the southern African Republic.
What with celebrations to mark 125 years on the horizon!
As part of the celebrations, culture specific events are standing out: the mesmerising Cultural Exhibition, the nostalgic Cultural Food expo and the imposing Traditional Dances among other booming showcases will be on offer.
The City of Bulawayo is famous for its preservation of Zimbabwe’s culture, heritage and values. A number of arts and culture heroes have emerged from the southern part of the country notably, musicians Solomon Skhuza, Fanyana Dube and, Lovemore Majaivana, poet Albert Nyathi, multi-talented actor, historian, critic, journalist and author Pathisa Nyathi and, firebrand and critic play-writer Continueloving ‘Cont’ Mhlanga, the ever-young Cool Crooners and world travelled Iyasa to mention just a few.
Amakhosi Theatre is making great footprints in that regard. The city has for the past 60 years hosted the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) which also is a concrete platform to showcase and market the arts and culture.
In the same vein, the city is mother to museums such as The Joshua Nkomo and NRZ and, tourist resorts namely Khami and the nearby Matopo Ruins for the prosperity and preservation of our arts, culture and Ubuntu.
The city is a convergent zone for different cultures shown by the various languages you can easily hear as you move around. Ndebele, the main language, Sotho, Ndau, Shona, Manyika, Xhosa, Venda, Zulu, Tswana, Nambya, Chibure, Kalanga and Khoisan all spoken within the boundaries as a mark of living together in peace, love and harmony.
There is no denial that the City of Bulawayo is a rich historical repository.
Bayethe!