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Bongani Ndlovu Showbiz Correspondent
THE Chibuku Neshamwari Traditional Dance Festival national finals will, for the second year running, be held at the White City Stadium in Bulawayo on Saturday. Ten groups from around the country will be vying for the $7,000 first prize, $5,000 second prize and $3,000 third prize. The 10 groups are Sokunjalo Mafrica (Bulawayo), Pezhuba Pachena (Matabeleland North), How Mine and Kalawe (Matabeleland South), Maramuro Gure (Harare), Redwig Mine (Manicaland), Fix Changoma (Midlands), Arcturus (Mashonaland East), Dzimbabwe (Masvingo) and Tsitsamwana (Mashonaland West).

Last year Mashonaland East outfit, Makarekare Dance Troupe were crowned national champions and walked away with $4,000. The group was closely followed by Chinyakare dance group from Mashonaland Central who came in second and pocketed $3,000 while Mashonaland West’s Budiriro Arts came in third pocketing $2,000.

Event sponsor Delta Beverages said they decided to increase the prize money because they wanted winning groups to have more funding to further develop their art. “We want the money to be significant to the group so that they can do something noteworthy with the prize money. For Chibuku it’s a key development to the arts sector and we want to increase the prize money for the coming years,” read the statement.

On returning to Bulawayo, the beverages maker said the city was a key market for Chibuku products.

“Traditionally Chibuku Neshamwari was held at Harare Gardens but we then decided that we have a key market in Bulawayo. Also we’ve also started to service with the opening of our plant there. We thought to appreciate our consumers in Bulawayo, we celebrate their culture and give them entertainment,” read the statement.

During the competition, the ever popular Clement Magwaza and his band Mlambo Express alongside Babongile Sikhonjwa and DJ Mellow T will provide entertainment for people at the free show.