By Jonathan Mbiriyamveka
For five years, they have danced. For three of those years, they have tasted second place—close enough to taste glory, far enough to feel the sting.
But this time, the story is different.
Amakhosikazi, the all-women Isitshikitsha dance group from Victoria Falls, has finally done it. Over the weekend, they clinched the top spot at the Matebeleland North provincial finals, punching their ticket to the Chibuku Neshamwari Traditional Dance national finals for the very first time.
And they are not going just to participate.
“We Are Rehearsing to Win”
Choreographer Fadzai Chizema spoke with quiet determination after the victory.
“We are busy rehearsing and fine tuning our dances to match the trends,” Chizema said.
Formed in 2021, the 14-member ensemble has never tasted victory at this level. For years, they watched others lift trophies while they collected silver. But this year, the energy feels different. The rehearsals are sharper. The hunger is real.
How They Got Here
Amakhosikazi dominated the provincial stage, leaving Gulewankulu Hwange and Amafolosi Amahle (with their Indlamu-Mzansi dance) to settle for second and third positions.
But the women from Victoria Falls are not resting. They know the national stage is a different beast entirely.
A Festival That Moves the Nation
This year’s Chibuku Neshamwari festival beats to a powerful, unifying rhythm:
“Ngoma Ngairire Shamwari, Tshay’ sgubhu Mngane” — “Let the drum roar, friend, and strike the gubhu, comrade.”
From 9 May to 11 July 2026, the festival has swept across all ten provinces, transforming Zimbabwe into a living, breathing stage of movement, memory, and belonging.
Each provincial final is more than a contest. It is a homecoming.
The Stakes Have Never Been Higher
Provincial winners have already taken home:
1st Prize: USD 2,500
2nd Prize: USD 1,500
3rd Prize: USD 1,000
But the real treasure waits at the National Final, where the country’s finest traditional dance groups will battle for life-changing prizes:
1st Prize: USD 15,000
2nd Prize: USD 10,000
3rd Prize: USD 7,500
A Living Museum Without Walls
In partnership with the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe (NACZ) and the Zimbabwe National Traditional Dancers Association (ZNTDA) , Chibuku Neshamwari has become something rare: a living museum without glass cases or velvet ropes.
Just raw, unstoppable rhythm. From dinhe to nyau to mbende.
The Dream
For Amakhosikazi, the dream is simple: to finally hit the jackpot.
After five years of perseverance, three years of near misses, and one breakthrough provincial win, these 14 women are ready to show Zimbabwe that patience, practice, and passion can move mountains—and judges.
The drum is calling. The gubhu is striking.
And Amakhosikazi? They are poised for glory.
Yorira ngoma shamwari — siyakhal’ is’gubhu mngane!
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