Activities you should be looking forward to at Matobo Fest 2017

Amagugu International Heritage Centre (AIHC) hosts the Matobo Heritage Festival this 31 July to 5 August 2017.

The festival runs under the theme Enhancing Awareness of Indigenous Cultural Heritage and has a multi-faceted approach to develop of the area.

It will provide provide primary, secondary and tertiary institutions of learning with a platform for practical and experiential learning of arts, culture and heritage provisions of the new education curriculum.

And here is the fun part, the things you will be able to do when it all kicks off.

Film In The Bush – a series of film screenings will be conducted for local primary and secondary schools. Film themes will address arts, culture and heritage elements and will be followed by post screening discussions. Separate screenings will be done for members of the public as part of entertainment.

Visit to Njelele Shrine Keeper – The Njelele shrine is one of the elements that constitute the cultural elements of the Matobo World Heritage Site. A visit will be made to the shrine keeper for students to learn the symbolism of the site.

Village Tours – visits to traditionally painted homes will be made. Learners will also be exposed to the layout of the traditional homestead, functions of different structures and artifacts.

Rock Art Visits – Matobo District has thousands of rock art and learners will get to see these as part of the learning experience.

Traditional Dance and Music – among other traditional dances, the wosana dance will be showcased. The wosana dance is significant as it was performed during rain making processes at the Njelele shrine. Ritual songs will also be performed. Diverse local groups to perform.

Traditional Games – part of the participatory cultural activities on offer. Mini tournament to be conducted.

Storytelling – the elderly in the local community will conduct story telling sessions for school children.

Visual Art Lessons – a series of visual art lessons will be conducted culminating in an exhibition at the end of the Festival.

Tour of Murals – schools to tour 27 murals that constitute the perimeter wall at AIHC. The learning aids provide insight into the pre-colonial Ndebele way of life.

Home Stays – Festival guests keen to appreciate the rural life will spend nights in homesteads of selected villagers.

Traditional Leaders’ Indaba – will feature local Matobo traditional leaders in a discussion of their role in conserving the cultural elements reposed in the Matobo World Heritage Site.

Crafts Exhibition – local craft persons will display their artifacts for sale to schools and visiting members of the public.