The Sunday Mail
Sharon Munjenjema and Tanyaradzwa Rusike
The curtain came down yesterday on the Culture Week and the inaugural Food and Culture Festival with scores of people thronging the Harare Gardens where various activities were held to celebrate the two events.
Yesterday’s events coincided with Africa Day commemorations.
A number of events took place concurrently in the gardens, where several organisations, institutions and Government departments exhibited their work.
Secondary and tertiary institution students also partook in several activities including traditional games such as nhodo and tsoro.
Numerous traditional dance groups, dressed in colourful cultural attires, also showcased their skills, performing on sidewalks throughout the park.
First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa also graced the event where she toured exhibition stands.
The First Lady hosted a number of guests including traditional chiefs, school children among other people at a makeshift kitchen erected on the grounds.
To celebrate the diversity of Zimbabwean culture, while demonstrating the importance of unity in traditional extended families, the First Lady, her daughters and daughters-in-law came together and prepared traditional meals for the guests.
They prepared a variety of traditional dishes such as finger-millet sadza and okra served with snacks that included salted peanuts and roasted pumpkin seeds.
The First lady, who is a chef by profession, also demonstrated how to extract oil from pumpkin seeds using a mortar and pestle.
The oil was used to prepare the meals which the First Lady and her daughters-in-law served some guests who included some traditional chiefs, their wives and other people.
There was also a mock panel of chiefs who presided over a traditional court, in an effort to demonstrate to urban dwellers how rural disputes are resolved.
Speaking to the Sunday Mail after a partaking in the mock traditional court, Chief Makumbe of Buhera, Mr Shepherd Chengeta praised the First Lady for leading by example.
“Amai varatidza kuti ndiAmai, nekuti munhu wese, kana akaroora anofarira kubikirwa nemudzimai wake. Saka mai venyika vadzidzisa vamwe kuti chikafu chinobikwa sei.” (The First Lady has shown that she is a real mother and has led by example by showing other women how traditional food is prepared.)
The highlight of the day was a fashion show, which showcased several African print material designs by local fashion designers.
The First Lady also attended the Fashion Show.
In an interview, on the side-lines of the event, the fashion show director, Ms Nomsa Mpofu said fashion is an important part of culture which should be used as a reminder of a people’s roots.
