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Walter Mswazie in Masvingo
THE Great Limpopo Cultural Trade Fair being hosted by the Centre for Cultural Development Initiative (CCDI) operating as Gaza Trust in Chiredzi roars to life today at Boli-Muhlanguleni Cultural Centre.

Cultural groups from three countries that share the Limpopo River as well as Swaziland will showcase at the fair – a platform to promote trade among VaTsonga/Shangani cultural groups in the Southern African region.

Event organiser – CCDI director Herbert Phikela said the three-day event would be officially opened by Masvingo Minister of State for Provincial Affairs, Ezra Chadzamira, tomorrow.

The fete is being run under the theme: “Community Engagement through Agri-prenuership and Biodivesity Trade”.

Before the festivities, there will be a cultural business symposium today.

“Despite the prevailing economic challenges, we’re going ahead with our annual event. We look forward to hosting delegates from Mozambique, Swaziland and Botswana,” said Phikela.

Now in its sixth edition, the cultural fair seeks to promote the rich and diverse traditions of the Shangani or Tsonga people.

This includes dress and beadware, food and traditional hunting methods, music and dancing, poetry and storytelling (karengano and tsekelelo), homebuilding and wall decorations, saila (annual fish drives), male initiation to adulthood (ngomeni) and female initiation to adulthood (khomba).

– @walterbmswazie2