A society without culture is just nothing

Italian envoy hails cultural exchange Italian envoy hails cultural exchange

Italian envoy hails cultural exchange

ITALIAN Ambassador to Zimbabwe Enrico De Agostini has said diplomats should promote unity and embrace cultural exchange programmes cementing the relationships among nations.

Speaking to NewsDay on the sidelines of eighth edition of the Italian Jazz Festival — now rebranded to Musica Festival — recently, De Agostini said the festival sought to promote cultural diversity.

“Musica Festival is part of the diplomatic mission’s vibrant culture exchange programme which is designed to facilitate stronger relations between Italy and Zimbabwe,” he said.

“Our nation is committed to engaging in programmes that facilitate cultural exchange and that’s why we host the Musica Festival.”

He said the fiesta was also aimed at promoting creative expression through facilitation of artistic interaction and collaborations.

De Agostini said besides music, the festival also provided local artistes with an opportunity to collaborate with visiting Italian artistes, and had given birth to a number of business opportunities.

The festival also incorporated fashion in partnership with Priscilla Chigariro’s Zimbabwe Fashion Week.

At the fashion extravaganza, four local designers exchanged notes with two Italian designers attending the festival.

The annual Musica Festival is organised by the Embassy of Italy through partnerships with the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe, Culture Fund of Zimbabwe Trust, the Zimbabwe-German Society, Pamberi Trust and ZiFM Stereo.

The festival, held at various venues in Harare, featured 54 international musicians including Marco Maggiore, Pietro Tonolo and Antonio Jasevoli Band as well as over 100 local artistes including Oliver Mtukudzi, Filbert Marova, Josh Meck, Afrika Revenge, Hope Masike, Dudu Manhenga and Patience Musa.

Uphold the aspect of Ubuntu: Minister

MINISTER of Rural Development, Promotion and Preservation of National Culture and Heritage Abednico Ncube has urged Zimbabweans to promote and uphold Unhu/Ubuntu while reflecting Zimbabwe’s cultural diversity.

The remarks were made in a speech read on his behalf by the acting secretary in his ministry, Farai Mabhena last week at a ceremony to welcome visiting students studying archaeology, history and anthropology from University of Wales, United Kingdo
m held at the National Art Gallery in the capital.

The students are in the country for a cultural exchange programme until January 25 courtesy of Love Zimbabwe Charity in partnership with the University of Wales.

“This is an important cultural exchange programme which will foster a good relationship between Zimbabwe and Wales. My ministry is working tirelessly to increase exchange programmes to enhance the growth of the creative industry,” Ncube said.

Abednico Ncube

“Zimbabwe remains committed to working with anyone around the globe provided he or she regards us as partners. Thus, culture cuts across race, religion, gender and political divide. Let’s cherish and uphold the aspect of Ubuntu for the betterment of our people.”

Speaking to NewsDay on the side-lines of the event, Love Zimbabwe Charity founder and director Martha Musonza-Holman said as part of the programme the visiting students will tour a number of cultural and political institutions in and around Harare to have an understanding of the country.

“The visit by these Wales University students, Love Zimbabwe partners and trustees will help in community development issues. The tourism sector is also set to benefit as we believe this cultural exchange programme will help portray to the world the positive things happening in Zimbabwe at the same time strengthening the relationship between the two countries,” she said.

“During their stay (the students) will also spearhead a brick moulding project and participate in workshops of various interests that include batik, sculpting and beat ornaments.”

Musonza Holman said Love Zimbabwe Charity supports community projects in Wales and Zimbabwe with the aim of engaging different communities to achieve sustainable living for the community within its natural environment and African culture.

“We established the Art and Craft market stalls in United Kingdom where products from Zimbabwean artistes are sold to accord them an opportunity to market their products taking into cognisance property rights in line with international standards while at the same time boosting the Zimbabwe Tourism sector,” she said.

She said the Chinamhora Community was chosen for the pilot project working with Love Zimbabwe and plans are at an advanced stage to spread the wings countrywide.

“For Love Zimbabwe working in partnership with the Chinamhora community has helped both parties to collectively identify what is needed to deal with poverty being experienced in the community providing basic standards of living and work,” Musonza Holman said.

“Love Zimbabwe has set out plans to build a library and a traditional African Village on the Chinamhora community land, where, in future, visitors will be able to stay and experience life in Zimbabwe on a cultural exchange.”

At the event that was attended by some representatives from National Museum and Monuments, traditional leaders and National Art Gallery, Dzivarasekwa-based Tsoro Arts Center group and St Giles’ School Mbira Band provided some entertainment.

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EVERY SOCIETY HAS GOT ITS OWN CULTURE

Culture can be viewed as the norms and values of a particular society. Zimbabwe is a multicultural society, in reality Zimbabwe is a melting pot.

Due to globalisation its difficult for a society to stay intact, globalisation has resulted in cultural hybridisation, this is a situation whereby people adopt other societies' way of living. In Zimbabwe, cultural hybridisation was mainly due to adoption of Christianity. Christianity viewed certain African practices as evil, in reality African practises hindered the spread of Christianity.

Despite different cultural practices in Zimbabwe, there are still basic standards for example committing murder is not acceptable. A society without culture is lost and will not survive

CULTURE

'Educated man withoutUBUNTU (HUMANNESS) 
Is as useless as a man of no dignity within a Society''

'' Culture is OUR IDENTITY''
Our African-ness must always look fresh 

We serve for more and polish up your title for much more than ever dreamt of . Great Zimbabwe University a tertiary institute that advocates for True type of Zimbabweans. It accommodates a variety of international students that are capable of sharing diverse of cultural values in aim to extend the inter-cultural boarders as well as accommodating and facilitating cultural differences.     The University OfChoice   Culture as our  ''Motto'' Shall always serve the mass for a value worthy our true type that isIDENTITY Great Zimbabwe an Institute of Honour and Integrity since its earliest years of its establishment...   STAND A CHANCE TO FIND YOURSELF  ENUMERATED AMONG THE  PEOPLE OF A TITLE  

"MAKE IT NOW FOR A BETTER  TITLE OF HONOR"

          "APPLY  NOW  WHILE  A PROFESSION  OF DIGNITY  LAST"