Matshayisikhova to represent Bulawayo at Jikinya

Matshayisikhova primary school has won the Bulawayo provincial Jikinya traditional dance competition and will represent the province at the national finals.

The provincial dance festival was held at the Amphitheatre last Thursday and Matshayisikhova beat nine schools to win the ticket to represent the province.

For their efforts, the Luveve school bagged $500. Coming in second was last year’s winners Mabhukudwana Primary School which walked away with $300.

Inkanyezi Primary School was third placed and received $200.

Bongani Sibanda, National Association of Primary School Heads (Naph) Bulawayo provincial chairperson said the competition was very tight.

“It was difficult for the judges to come up with the winner this year. We had last year’s champions Mabhukudwana who came in second showing how tight the competition was.

“This was Matshayisikhova’s first time to participate in the competition,” said Sibanda.

He said as a province, they were confident that Matshayisikhova would represent them well at the national finals slated for Beitbridge this week.

The Jikinya festival is held annually by the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe and is meant to encourage primary school pupils to appreciate and perform Zimbabwean traditional dances.

This year’s theme is ‘Enriching the national educational thrust through dance’. - Chronicle