In order to preserve Zimbabwean tradition and to raise awareness about HIV-orphaned children, a group of Zimbabwean girls, supported by the Tariro organization, perform Mbakumba in the YouTube video. They attach hosho to their legs to enhance the experience, producing a beat with each step.
Their dance carries symbols of resilience and rebirth and embraces Zimbabwean customs. They convey ideas of fresh starts and development as they tap out intricate rhythms and balance clay pots on their heads. Additionally, the dancers shake baskets in the same way as women winnow maize, honoring agricultural traditions and establishing a connection to the land. Their movements are accompanied by the mbira's harmonics, creating a synchronized blend of dance and music that embodies community, cultural pride, and a vision of hope.
"Mbakumba is one dance style that has stood the taste test of time, and even to date, we still have dancers practicing and performing it both locally and abroad."- Othnell Moyo, 2020