The Sunday News
Rebecca Nyathi Sunday Leisure Reporter
VICTORIA Falls-based traditional dance group Makishi has embarked on a national tour in an endeavour to educate people particularly the youths about the various cultural activities of Zimbabwe. According to the group director Kayata Tshuma the Makishi masquerade is performed at the end of the Mukanda, an annual initiation ritual for boys between the ages of eight and 12.
This ritual is celebrated by the Vaka Chiyama and Cha Mukwamayi communities, which include the Luvale, Chokwe, Luchazi and Mbunda peoples who live in the north-western provinces of Zambia.
“For us to adopt this tradition it was because of our parents who were born in Zambia and moved to Zimbabwe with their tradition, we also adapted their tradition and decided to do its traditional dances,” said Tshuma.
Tshuma added that their band is mainly focused on educating people especially males on circumcision and how it is conducted in some areas.
“What our tribes do in Victoria Falls during the cold and dry season is taking young boys away from their homes and live for one to three months in an isolated bush camp. This separation from the outside world marks their symbolic death as children.
“The Mukanda involves the circumcision of the initiates, test of courage and lessons on their future role as men and husbands. Each initiate is assigned a specific masked character, which remains with him throughout the entire process,” said Tshuma.
When dancing most of the dancers wear different masks which are believed to be symbolic and have the same symbolic meaning with the characters given to the young boys during their stay in the entire circumcision process.
Some of the characters include Chisaluke, Mupala, Pwevo and Makishi.
“The Chisaluke represents a powerful and wealthy man with spiritual influence; the Mupala is the “lord” of the Mukanda and protective spirit with supernatural abilities; Pwevo is a female character representing the ideal woman and is responsible for the musical accompaniment of the rituals and dances. The Makishi is another masked character, representing the spirit of a deceased ancestor who returns to the world of the living to assist the boys,” said Tshuma.
Upon completion of the Mukanda a celebration is conducted with a graduation ceremony. Everyone who believes in that tradition attends the ceremony where the Makishi dance and pantomime-like performance is done until the graduates re-emerge from the camp to reintegrate with their communities as adult men.
The group, which consist of 13 band members, made a name for itself since its last performance at the Harare International Festival of Arts with Oliver Mtukudzi and the Mahumbe band.
