Thohoyandou’s Maanda nga u pfana Malende cultural dance group members pose for a photo during the event.

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The Thulamela Municipality held its annual cultural festival at the Thohoyandou show grounds last Saturday.

Members of society from all parts of Vhembe flocked in droves to witness this historic cultural festival, organized by the Thulamela Sports, Arts and Culture directorate.

Approximately 40 traditional groups competed against each other during the competition. The groups included Malende, Tshikona, Tshigombela and Xicayicayi.

According to the head of sports, arts and culture at Thulamela Municipality, Mr Ronald Makhadi, the competition was part of the municipality’s sports, arts and culture programme that is conducted every year. "The main purpose of these cultural engagements is to unify the people of Thulamela. The issue of health amongst the elderly is also part of the programme as the dances are also part of exercising. It is in these events where people learn how to organize themselves," added Makhadi.

Makhadi said that the competition did not end at the local municipal level, as the successful groups compete at district level with traditional dancing groups from other local municipalities.

The cultural groups, according to Makhadi, are going to form part of the entertaining activities during the 2010 World Cup matches at the Peter Mokaba Sports Complex. Delegates from Kruger National Park formed part of the event as part of their partnership with Thulamela Municipality.

The municipality had sponsored the competition with cash prizes.

In the Tshigombela category, the winners, Vhurivhuri Thononda, received R3 500. Mubvumoni ha Mudzulandoamba came second and received R3 000 and the third-placed Vhurivhuri Ngwenani received R2 500, Mubvumoni Thondoni R2 000, Tshidzini Diimiseni R1 000, Pfano ya Vhafumakadzi R500, Makhwarani Sialala R500, while Pfano Thsikweta also received R500.

For Malende, Pfano ya Vhafumakadzi received R3 500 for winning the competition, followed by Maanda nga u pfa, who received R3 000, Lwamondo Thondoni R2 500, Makhwarani Sialala R2 000, Tshisaulu tsha makumbane R1 000, Pfano tshikweta R500, Bono traditional dancers R500, Phiphidi clinic R500 while Tshifudi Thondoni also received R500.

The Khinghani Maphophe group received R1 750 for winning the Xicayicayi category.

The Tshikona category ended in a draw, with the Makwarani, Lwamondo Thondoni and Milaboni dance groups receiving R5 500, followed by Tshilungwi, who received R4 500.

The date of the Vhembe cultural competition is still to be announced.

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