Dr Joshua Nkomo to be honoured in SA
THE life of the late
Zimbabwean Vice- President, ve teran nationalist and father figure, Dr Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo is scheduled to be commemorated in South Africa at the end of the month.
The belated ceremony, which will be held in Johannesburg’s Hillbrow Theatre on 30 July, is aimed at being an inspirational concert that advocates for unity among Zimbabweans and South Africans based in South Africa.
The event is being organised by Matabeleland Entertainment News ( MEN) — a media and arts organisation being run by Zimbabwean artistes based in South Africa.
MEN spokesperson Mongezi Mpofu said the event would kickoff at mid- day on Saturday and would run through the evening with a number of artistes, poets and drama groups expected to perform.
“We will be celebrating the life and good works of our hero, Dr Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo from 12 mid- day at the Hillbrow Theatre Johannesburg. ‘ We will celebrate his life through song, cultural dances, poetry and miming acts,” he said in an interview.
Mpofu said they had also brought on board a couple of South African artistes who would provide entertainment during the commemorations.
Besides song and dance, Mpofu said there would be a series of lectures from some Zimbabwean community leaders based in South Africa.
The commemorations have been running annually since 2013 by a group of Zimbabwean artistes under Matabeleland Entertainment News, a community initiative organisation that dedicates time in bringing Zimbabweans in the diaspora together as a way of restoring their identity and celebrating their heroes.
The event will be supported by groups such as Shilolo Media and Hwehhu media, among a brood of Zimbabwean artistes based in South Africa.
Another of the organisers, Mothusi Bashimane, who is also set to showcase his comedy film — Madlela Skhobokhobo said they were proud sons of the soil, who wanted to spread Dr Nkomo’s legacy.
Dr Nkomo was a symbol of unity and it is through these community initiatives that we unite and conscientise our people on ubuntu, taking pride in our identity wherever we are in the world and preserve our heritage and history that makes us who we are,” said Bashimane.