Third ‘My Beautiful Home’ competition in full force
THE third edition of the My Beautiful Home competition is in full swing since its opening on 11 June of this year.
The annual competition which is meant to revitalise tthe old Ndebele tradition of beautifying walls takes place in seven wards in Matopo North District and as of this year, one ward in Gwanda district.
My Beautiful Home ccommittee member Pathisa Nyathi said the competition was specifically open to women.
“Historically, the role of beautifyingb homes belonged to women.w
“They performed the art in tthe winter months as they used water soluble naturally occurring products,” said Nyathi.
For this reason, the practice was done annually as is the My Beautiful Home competition.
Proffesor John Knight, also a committee member said the first round of the competition ends on the first of August.
At this point, coordinators and committee members will move around the houses, judging which ones proceed to the next round which ends on 29 August.
Shortlisted houses will then be judged by the Bulawayo committee and winners will be announced at a prize giving ceremony to be held at Amagugu International Heritage Center on 1 October. “We award prizes relevant to rural life. “Prizes like wheelbarrows, water tanks, ox-drawn ploughs among other things that rural residents find useful,” said Nyathi.
He added that prizes were made available by different sponsors of the competition.
Alliance Francaise, National University of Science and Technology (Nust), National Art Gallery, Kango, Squeaky Clean, Halsteds, Ikrisad, Fortwell and Amagugu International Heritage Centre are among the sponsors.
Coinciding with the awards ceremony is the MyBeautiful Face-Bhudaza competition.
This competition focuses on face painting also known as ukubhuda.
Nyathi confirmed that the My Beautiful Home and My Beautiful Face competitions are growing bigger every year.
“We had very few entrants in 2014 but we have hundreds now.
“The competition is even extending to Gwanda and Shurugwi,” he said.