Africa-Press – Zimbabwe. NAPOLEON Nyanhi, the director of the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe (NACZ), on Saturday led a delegation comprising top officials and 15 artists to present The Great Zimbabwe Dance Theatrical at the Expo 2025 Osaka in Japan at the Zimbabwe Pavilion National Day on Wednesday.
The play was scripted by Josh Nyapimbi, choreographed by Gibson Sarari, and produced by Nkulukeko Dube.
According to Oliver Chauke, marketing and communications manager at NACZ, the play is a narrative that tells the history of Zimbabwe from its founding, colonisation, independence, while showcasing the revolving trends in fashion, music, dance, literature and social, economic development through well-choreographed dance routines which show the unending joy which comes with investing in Zimbabwe.
“The play explores and showcases dances rooted in the 10 provinces of Zimbabwe, like mhande, Dinhe, Isitshikitsha, gule, muchongoyo, mbakumba, and contemporary dances like amapiano, break dance. Through the mind-blowing four acts, Japan and the rest of the world get to know Mosi-oa-Tunya/Victoria Falls, Hwange National Park and the Big 5, Great Zimbabwe, a Unesco World Heritage Site, Chinhoyi Carves, Eastern Highlands, Nyanga, Mtarazi and Chimanimani, among others,” Chauke told NewsDay Life & Style.
He said NACZ had done wide consultations through its provincial arts managers to come up with a good selection of musicians, dancers, and actors from prominent arts groups in Zimbabwe.
The selected teams of artists were as follows: Sinobuhle Dube (Bolamba Culture Birds, Matabeleland South), Willard Muchapondwa (Nyaungwe, Mashonaland East), Rudorwashe Sarari (Zvido Zvevanhu, Mashonaland West), Kasandu Asando (Mbada Ensemble, Midlands), Blessed Chakomoka (Imvimbi, Matabelaland), Fidelis Tshuma (Umkhathi, Matabeleland North), Nyasha Dziruni (Iyasa, Bulawayo), Sarah Dhliwayo (Afaz, Bulawayo), Alexis Makaza (Greene Stars, Harare), Sarabinos Chimukwende (Guruve Marimba Ensemble, Mashonaland Central), Stacey Tadiwanashe Dombodzvuku (Elysium Magna Harare) and last but not least Takudzwa Matete (Semvumba Dance Group, Manicaland).
The Expo 2025 Osaka Kansai, themed Designing Future Society for Our Lives, is set to be a global platform that promotes cross-cultural exchange, innovation and sustainable development.
With over 150 participating countries, it offers Zimbabwe a timely and strategic opportunity to reintroduce itself on the world stage, not just as a nation rich in heritage and natural wonders, but as an emerging hub for investment, creativity and resilience. Through immersive storytelling, visual spectacle and vibrant performances like The Great Zimbabwe Dance Theatrical, Zimbabwe will be speaking a universal language of pride, identity, and progress to an audience of millions.
The Zimbabwe Pavilion National Day on July 16 serves not only as a celebration of Zimbabwean arts and culture but also as a carefully curated experience designed to attract global interest in tourism, trade and cultural exchange. By bringing together traditional and contemporary dance forms from all 10 provinces, the presentation offers a multidimensional narrative that honours the past while embracing the future.
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