Barnabas Chadamoyo

Dancer

A traditional dancer and drummer of immense repute and endowed with vast experience; Barnabas Chadamoyo is an artist who has seen it all in the dance fraternity, from the Rhodesian era dating back to the late 60s and early 70s when arguably he was very influential in the development of dance as an artistic genre. Indeed, he was influential in the growth and development of this type of art in the country during the colonial era.

As a member of SATA (Salisbury African Tradition dance Association) which became HATA after independence, Barnabas was pivotal in ensuring the practice of the traditional dance repertoire was/is maintained as part of the nation’s cultural heritage, even to this day. HATA (Harare African Traditional dance Association) morphed into ZNTDA with him being actively involved in the process.

Hailing from Mashonaland East Province Uzumba specifically, the home of Mbende-Jerusarema Dance, he spent much of his time in Harare performing for Murehwa Number 1 Jerusarema Club as a dancer and also a drummer. The dance was proclaimed by UNESCO as a masterpiece for intangible cultural heritage.

He was one of the semi-professional artists who inspired many other Mbende-Jerusarema dancers and cultural dance practitioners including the late Douglas Vambe and many groups in and outside Mashonaland East Province and Harare. In the mid-90s working and residing in Harare, he was retired from his duties and became a pensioner, and thereafter decided to go home to Murehwa where he then pursued his passion for dance.

Barnabas then created the group Shingirirayi Jerusarema which he trained and pushed to participate in provincial and national functions which included NeShamwari Traditional Dance Festival, Greater Harare Arts Festival, Jacaranda Arts Festival and Mbende-Jerusarema Festival just to mention but a few.

Today, at above 85 years, he still trains dance and drumming for dances like Mbende-Jerusarema, Pfonda, Jiti, Chidhange, Kadhora and Chinyamusasure amongst others. He has been a trainer of trainers in traditional dance since then and an artist who also produces traditional goods (crafts) and costumes.

Dance has been his passion and his art for so many years, contributing to its growth and development. He continues to nurture dance practitioners and in the process contributing to the preservation of Zimbabwe’s culture and heritage for posterity as expressed through dance. Barnabas Chadamoyo remains an iconic figure, particularly in the practice of the MasterPiece, Mbende-Jerusarema Dance. — NACZ.