Story by Patience Nyagato
ZIMBABWEAN musicians are set to celebrate the country’s cultural heritage through music at an inaugural totem-inspired concert in Harare on Friday.
Dubbed ‘Mhofu Dzichifara’, the event will bring together artists who share the Mhofu totem, including Victor Kunonga, Alexio Kawara, Dhadza D and Selmor Mtukudzi, in a celebration of identity, culture and unity.
Organisers say the concert, the first in a planned series of totem-themed events, seeks to promote cultural pride while highlighting the unifying power of music.
Event coordinator Josh Hozheri said the initiative was inspired by Zimbabwe’s rich totemic heritage, which cuts across communities and indigenous languages.
“Zimbabwe is a very traditional country with totems that cut across all our indigenous languages and communities. We chose the Mhofu totem because it is one of the largest totem groups in the country and has a strong presence in this area,” he said.
“We believe this heritage needs to be celebrated, and music has the power to bring people together. Going forward, we hope to feature other totems throughout the year.”
Musician Alexio Kawara described the event as a celebration of culture, family and shared heritage.
“This show is about our inheritance, our culture and celebrating family. There is no better way for families to celebrate together than through music and dance,” he said.
“Fans can expect the very best of Alexio. We will be bringing back the music that people have known and loved since we started in 1999, and audiences can expect one of our best performances this year.”
Victor Kunonga urged Zimbabweans to embrace their cultural identity and attend the event.
“For the first time, I will be sharing the stage with fellow artists from my totem. What excites me most is that we are bringing all totems together to celebrate who we are as a people,” he said.
“Our totems give us our identity, which we carry around the world. This will be a colourful evening celebrating our heritage, and we encourage people to come dressed in African attire as we celebrate Zimbabwe.”
Organisers say the Mhofu edition is the first of a broader cultural initiative, with future concerts expected to spotlight other totems, including Samaita, Nyamasvisva and Soko, as efforts to promote heritage, identity and unity through music gather momentum.
