In the rural village of Ha-Luvhimbi Madevehele, near Makonde, members of a local dance group are keeping the Tshivenda culture alive by teaching youths from rural communities more about cultural dances and traditional plays, such as tshigombela, tshifasi and Matangwa.

Ro takuwa nayo sialala, which roughly translates into “We have to stand up and promote cultural dances”, is a rural cultural dance project that performs traditional plays, such as the Tshivenda drama, Matangwa, and other dances.

According to the group leader, Vhafunzi Alilali Mukwevho, they inherited the group from their elders, who formed the group years ago. Some of these elders are not even alive anymore. “We are a group of about 55 women and one man, who came together to perform and promote some of our cultural dances. When people started to see our seriousness in performing these cultural dances, our project went from strength to strength. Now, we are always invited to special occasions, like weddings, ceremonies, and even cultural dance competitions,” said Mukwevho.

They are the proud winners of the 2018 Radzambo cultural competition’s tshigombela division. Radzambo is a project organised by Vhamusanda Livhuwani Matsila, in partnership with Phalaphala FM.

“We are lending our cultural dance skills to young people, so that the group does not perish but continues to promote Tshivenda cultural dances for the next generations. We are happy that our traditional leader, Vhamusanda Thavhayavhathu Masikhwa, encouraged his communities [to take part] in cultural plays and dances,” he said.

On Friday, 16 June, the group members were invited to perform at the dance celebrations of Vho-Nnditsheni Matsila in Thohoyandou Block F.

Matsila said he had seen them perform at cultural dance competitions, weddings and other events, and was impressed with their dancing skills. “I personally like Tshivenda traditional dances such as the tshikona, tshigombela and malende, and I like the dances performed as plays to revive our culture,” said Matsila.