Home painting  competition launched Pathisa Nyathi
Pathisa Nyathi

Pathisa Nyathi

Auxilia Katongomara Showbiz Reporter
VILLAGERS in Matobo district who have maintained the art of painting their homes stand a chance of winning great prizes in a competition which aims at preserving and revitalising the art.
The competition running under the “Comba Indlu Ngobuciko (My Beautiful home)” banner is being organised by the Amagugu International Heritage Centre with support from various cultural and architectural experts.

Addressing a Press conference yesterday, director of the centre, Pathisa Nyathi said the pilot project came after the realisation that the art of painting which was mainly done by women from different ethnic groups was facing extinction.

“The tradition of painting homes after the rains was done by women. They used to excavate the soils and come up with colour paints such as red and black from the soils.

“However, the skill is under threat and as such, we are interested in the revitalisation of the art,” said Nyathi.
The competition which kicked off on Sunday and ends on August 31 will see judges visiting homes of those who would have completed entry forms to be part of the competition. The competition is being held in Ward 16 and 17 under Chief Malaki Masuku.

A prize giving ceremony will be held on September 12 with a competition titled Bhudaza (Painted faces) also running on the day.
“For the Bhudaza competition the women will come to the competition and have colleagues painting their faces and they will be using the requisite paint that was used back in the day,” said Nyathi.

Nyathi said there was a story behind the paintings from the women and losing that story meant losing a part of the African tradition.
“We are not looking for new paintings for the competition but we are looking at homes that have already been painted,” he said.

The historian added that the idea had received a resounding welcome from village heads in the two wards and they were expecting a significant number of participants.

Nyathi commended musician Sandra Ndebele for her efforts in making sure that the tradition of face painting lives on.
Winners in the two competitions stand to win prizes such as ploughs, wheel barrows, pots, teapots, water bowsers, seed maize and T-shirts.

Organisers said they were looking forward to expanding the project to other parts of the district. The National Gallery of Zimbabwe in Bulawayo has also launched a similar initiative in Filabusi district.

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