Story by Zanele Masuku
ARTISTS in Zimbabwe are taking a leading role in preserving local culture through theatre and music, with Bulawayo’s Makokoba suburb emerging as a hub of cultural activity.
The late Beater Mangethe’s song about life in Makokoba continues to resonate, rekindling interest in the vibrant traditions of Bulawayo’s oldest suburb. Though Mangethe has long passed, her legacy endures through artists who keep cultural expression alive.
During a visit to Makokoba on Wednesday, the ZBC News crew observed various cultural performances, with particular attention drawn to Umkhathi Theatre Arts, a renowned local group committed to safeguarding traditional heritage through the performing arts.
“We are in the culture month and we are happy that as Zimbabwe we are celebrating our culture. Theatre arts is one way that preserve our culture because that is where our dances are kept. Artists are custodians of African traditional dances. We keep these dances in custody and pass them to the next generation for example isitshikitsha has been passed from one generation to another.
“These days we do not have community groups that used to keep those dances and perform them, it is now our duty as artists to perform these dances and keep them well. Today our culture faces extension because of many things like the internet so as artists we have to find a way to still preserve them even by posting our plays on the internet,” the Director of Umkhathi Theatre, Matesu Dube said.
Umkhathi Theatre Arts has taken its commitment a step further by supporting the government’s heritage-based education curriculum. The group actively promotes traditional performances in schools, ensuring that younger generations inherit cultural knowledge.
“We preserve our culture by keeping our traditional dances, wearing our traditional clothes, singing traditional songs, and preparing traditional food. We have even gone to schools to teach learners how to conserve food through drying and how to perform traditional dances like Isitshikitsha and Amabhiza, so these practices are not lost and can be passed on to the next generation,” artist, Lorine Sibanda said.
Umkhathi Theatre Group has produced three plays so far and also embarked on international tours in India as part of efforts to promote the Zimbabwean culture
