By Jonathan Mbiriyamveka
CHIREDZI — The rhythmic swish of beaded skirts. The hypnotic wriggle of waists in perfect unison. The beating of drums that echo across the Lowveld plains.
This is the Xibelani dance — the heartbeat of the Shangani people — and it took centre stage at the Budula Festival in Boli, Chiredzi South, Masvingo Province.
The annual festival, held from 26 to 28 June 2026, brought together Shangani communities from Zimbabwe, South Africa, and Mozambique in a spectacular celebration of culture, identity, and heritage.
The event, anchored on the “Nhaka Yedu, Ilifa Lethu, Our Heritage, This Is Us” campaign, showcased the rich traditions of the Tsonga people through vibrant dance competitions, culinary demonstrations, and exhibitions of indigenous knowledge.
Xibelani: More Than a Dance
For the Shangani people, Xibelani is not merely entertainment — it is an eternal identity. The dance, performed by women wearing the distinctive tinguvu skirt made of salampore fabric and decorated with intricate beadwork, has become the defining symbol of Tsonga culture across southern Africa.
“Xibelani has become our eternal identity as the Shangani people, whether those from Mozambique, Zimbabwe, or South Africa.
“All the ethnical groups can easily identify the Shangani with the xibelani,” said Mrs Selina Maluleke, a senior custodian of Shangani culture at Tshikwalakwala.
The dance involves women moving in a circle, wriggling their waists in a rhythmic display that signifies unity and the preservation of cultural values.
Traditionally taught at household level and initiation schools, girls begin training from around 12 years of age to ensure the continuity of the tradition.
A Confluence of Cultures
Festival organiser Herbert Phikela described the event as a celebration of Tsonga culture while addressing key livelihood challenges facing communities in the Lowveld.
The Budula Festival, which rebranded from the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Cultural Trade Fair in 2024, serves as a corridor — an active pathway connecting communities within the Greater Limpopo Transfrontier Conservation Area.
“The Xibelani culture incorporates Tsonga women’s dances and dressing, so we are here to support the local women, their resilience, and their role in the community,” Phikela explained.
Eight chieftainships from the Gonarezhou surrounds submitted dance teams to compete, with dancers from Chief Tshovani, Chief Chilonga, and Chief Sengwe emerging as winners.
The festival also featured a guest dance group from Chief Gudo, adjacent to the Save Valley Conservancy, and a Shona dance display from Masvingo Teachers College.
A Showcase of Heritage
Beyond the dance competitions, the festival featured culinary demonstrations showcasing indigenous Tsonga cuisine, seed and livestock exhibitions, and displays of traditional regalia and agricultural practices.
Exhibitors included National Museums and Monuments, Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority, Gonarezhou Conservation Trust, and the Malilangwe Trust, among others.
Festival Coordinator Herbert Phikela highlighted this year’s emphasis on community resilience through diversified livelihoods, indigenous food processing, and sustainable agricultural practices.
“Budula” is a Tsonga word meaning “corridor” or “active pathway” — an apt name for a festival that builds connections between communities and national parks within the Greater Limpopo Transfrontier Conservation Area, spanning Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and South Africa.
Guest of Honour Professor Never Mubako, representing the Director General of ZimParks, praised the initiative, noting that culture is key to conservation issues.
“We applaud our traditional leaders for supporting this initiative, which seeks to safeguard our cultural heritage,” he said.
A Promise for the Future
Plans are already underway to introduce new activities, including a Budula Marathon, and to establish a Culture and Heritage Park in collaboration with Midlands State University.
The park aims to serve as a visitor draw and commercial partnership hub for the Boli-Mhlanguleni area.
For the Shangani people, the Budula Festival is more than an annual gathering. It is a declaration: “Nhaka Yedu, Ilifa Lethu” — Our Heritage, This Is Us.
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