By Jonathan Mbiriyamveka
The drums have spoken. And the people have answered.
Over the weekend, Werras Park in Glen View became a sacred ground of movement, sweat, and pure ancestral fire as Shingayi Dance Group delivered a show-stopping Mbakumba performance that sent hundreds of fans into a frenzy.
The result? A thunderous ticket straight to the Chibuku Neshamwari Traditional Dance national finals.
Judges didn’t even need a second glance. Shingayi’s ceremonial brilliance — every stomp, every swirl, every call of the drum — locked them firmly in the number one spot.
The Silver and Bronze
But let’s not sleep on the runners-up. Pasichigare, bringing the powerful Muchongoyo energy, claimed second place. And Karingezuwa, with their hypnotic Chinyambera groove, rounded out the top three.
Pasichigare
Together, they turned Glen View into a living, breathing archive of Zimbabwean culture.
“Let the Drum Roar, Friend”
This year’s festival moves to a powerful, unifying theme:
“Ngoma Ngairire Shamwari, Tshay’ sgubhu Mngane” — “Let the drum roar, friend, and strike the gubhu, comrade.”
And roar it has.
From 9 May to 11 July 2026, the festival is sweeping across all ten provinces — transforming Zimbabwe into one massive, dancing stage. Each provincial final isn’t just a contest. It’s a homecoming. A remembrance. A celebration of movement, memory, and belonging.
The Stage Is Set. The Stakes Are High.
Provincial winners aren’t just walking away with bragging rights. They’re taking home:
1st Prize: USD 2,500
2nd Prize: USD 1,500
3rd Prize: USD 1,000
But the real treasure? That waits at the National Final, where the country’s finest traditional dance groups will battle for glory:
1st Prize: USD 15,000
2nd Prize: USD 10,000
3rd Prize: USD 7,500
In partnership with the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe (NACZ) and the Zimbabwe National Traditional Dancers Association (ZNTDA) , Chibuku Neshamwari has become a living museum without walls. No glass cases. No velvet ropes. Just raw, unstoppable rhythm — from dinhe to nyau to mbende.
Aspiring groups must register with NACZ and ZNTDA. So gather your crew. Polish your moves. Let the ancestors hear you coming.
The drum is calling.
The gubhu is striking.
Yorira ngoma shamwari — siyakhal’ is’gubhu mngane!
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