Facilities

Costume Hire Booming -posted 08/07/06

WHILE theatre, in terms of audience turn out, has gone down; costume hire business is booming as young girls come in droves to the Township Square Cultural Centre.

“The costume business is progressing well. Over 3 schools are hiring costume every week,” said Esnath Moyo, the head of the costume department at the TSCC. “Clients have said they are satisfied with the services that we are offering them.”

Moyo said costume is wanted mostly by young girls going for modeling shows that have suddenly picked up around the city, weddings and other events such as prize giving days at schools.

She said they have a wide variety of costume ranging from traditional costume to formal dressing.

“We’ll soon be including evening and night wear in our wardrobe and have new designs in the categories that we already have, she said.

A Boost For Cultures In Matabeleland

By Sibongumusa Dhlodhlo- posted 05/02/06

THE 2010 World Cup fiesta goals have been set as Umkulu ka Gogo Mabhena, a traditional home set up for the portrayal of different Matabeleland cultures, has been leased to musician, Sandra Ndebele and actor Bhekilizwe Ndlovu, for a three months pilot programme pending review to determine future co-operation.

Ndebele broke into the limelight as a dancer and singer with her debut album Tshaya Tshaya and Ndlovu is a well known actor who plays AK in the soap, Amakorokoza.

The home, which is situated at Amakhosi Township Square and Cultural Centre, was the late Gogo Mabhena (Doris Ndlovu)’s vision of exposing different cultures found in the Matabeleland region. Upon her death, the vision seemed to cease and has been taken up by Ndebele.

In an interview recently, Amakhosi’s Special Projects Director, Cont Mhlanga, confirmed this development.

“They (Sandra and Bhekilizwe) have been given a three months pilot lease so as to make sure that they are on the same line with Amakhosi of developing and exposing minority and diverse cultures in Matabeleland in terms of food, dress, festivals and songs as originally as possible,” said Mhlanga.

The village is a true reflection of a traditional home and will see the construction of an additional hut for girls. It is to be known as “Umuzi Wakwethu” (ko MaNdebele).

Mhlanga said that they were also targeting year 2010 to showcase these cultures, as there will be an influx of tourists during the World Cup to be held in South Africa.

Mhlanga, who is against finding a national dress through competitions instead of merging what is common in different cultures, said he hoped for positive results from this venture.

“I am calling upon people who are into diverse cultures to come forward and show us what they can do in terms cultural development as there are still plenty of opportunities and activities lying idle at Amakhosi,” he said.

Traditional Dishes on Wednesdays

Starting on Wednesday the 5^th of October 2005, Amakhosi Resturant will start serving traditional food dishes. The dishes will be served for break fast, lunch and dinner at the centre’s eating outlet.

This is in an attempt to encourage people to go traditional.

Bonani Mthethwa, a chef at the kitchen who is in charge of this new development, said he is looking forward to incorporating as many traditional dishes from right across Zimbabwe into his menu.

There will also be a chance to talk to the people who have prepared the food for recipes and other related issues.

So come down to Amakhosi and yourself to traditional taste.

The Centre

The then Town Clerk, Mr. Mike Ndubiwa, laid the foundation stone for the Amakhosi Township Square Cultural Centre (TSCC) on the 25^th of March in 1995.

The Cultural Centre stands on a very important part of historical ground where Inxwala, the Matebele festival of the first fruits was celebrated annually during King Lobengula’s rule. On one of these days that brought over 60 000 people to this place, the King would inspect the parade of the great “amabutho” and conduct the largest song and dance choir of up to 10 000 people.

The centre, which today is ten years old, boasts of various facilities that can be interest to a wide group of people. It has good parking venue and the lighting adds to the security.