Zim arts minister launches Culture Week

Culture Week coincides with World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development, which was proclaimed by UNESCO in 2001 and is celebrated internationally on 21 May

Culture Week will be broadcast via Zoom, ZBC News Online and the NACZ's Facebook page at 11am on 20 May and 9.30pm on 23 May. It will run under the theme, Zimbabwe at 40: Celebrating our Cultural Diversity and Heritage. 

"Usually the celebrations attract 5 000 people from all walks of life," NACZ director Nicholas Moyo said. "We celebrate Culture Week in line with UNESCO declaration of 2001 for all countries to observe a day of celebrating culture week. As Zimbabweans, we observe it for a week. This year we are going to do it virtually via the Internet and most of our discussions will be on how COVID-19 has impacted on our cultural practices.

"We are also going to have online exhibitions from the art gallery and dances from Mrewa group. On Saturday we are going to have performances from various artists like Hope Masike, Jays Marrabini, Blade, Willis Wattaffi and others.”

The NACZ said: “Culture Week seeks to celebrate the cultural diversity depicted by the diverse aesthetic cultural values and norms that define Zimbabweans. The weeklong cultural fiesta features various performances, exhibitions and demonstrations of Zimbabwe’s rich cultural offerings. The Culture Week events will this year, for the first time, be held exclusively through online platforms as the country is implementing lockdown restrictions on public gathering to curb the spread of the deadly COVID-19 disease.”

Culture Week will run as follows:

• ResiliArt debate discussing the impact of COVID-19 on Zimbabwean cultural practices (20 May at 11am).
• Culture Week concert (23 May at 9.30pm)