Published by the government of Zimbabwe
12 November 2009
Harare — LOCAL dance troupe Banyana Bafana has been invited to represent Zimbabwe at the eighth International Children's Festival of the Performing Arts to be held in New Delhi, India, from December 16-19.
They become one of the four African countries together with Nigeria, South Africa and Zambia to participate at the festival that involves numerous other groups from around the world.
Although they have been touring the Southern African region with their act, the invitation marks their maiden tour of the international arena.
Daniel Lunga, the co-director of the outfit, said they felt honoured being invited to represent the country at the prestigious event.
"We were invited by the committee organising the festival to be part of the event. It is quite an honour and we believe that we are not only represent our group alone but our country, its form of life, tradition and dances.
"We also have one of our productions called from Zambezi to Limpopo that we are going to showcase," he said.
Lunga said the festival would act as a springboard to other international events.
"We hope that this would be a springboard to us to other international events," he said.
His outfit recently received a lifeline after a local businessman and owner of Megga 1 Bar in the capital, Ben Mukandi, donated US$2 500 towards their airfares and other allowances.
"We are targeting to raise US$20 000 for the whole 12-member outfit including two directors to travel to India.
"We are appealing to the corporate world to assist in making this trip a reality," said Lunga.
Mukandi said he hoped the donation would spur the youthful outfit to do their best in India and represent the country well.
"It is indeed a small donation but I am hoping the group will do their best and put the country on the international map," he said.
Formed in 2000 in Bulawayo, the outfit was in 2003 shotlisted for the NAMA in for the best dance group award.
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