Gezani Day 2026 brought Ward 13 together at the Chief Gezani Court Hall for a full day of dance, sport, craft and giving. This is a record of the day in words and pictures — the Xibhelana dancers who filled the arena, the schools who fought for the tournament cup, the carvers who turned local hardwood into a belt that bends, and the neighbours who handed food to the elderly and the disabled.
The commemoration is the pinnacle of the Gezani community calendar, uniting people from across the ward with the diaspora, government stakeholders and corporate partners under the theme “Celebrating our heritage, building our future together.”
A community gathered
People arrived from every corner of the ward and filled the ground around the arena, seated on the earth and standing many rows deep. Traditional leaders, headmen, invited guests and partners were received alongside the community, and the day’s programme ran from the opening address through to the prize-giving.
The Chief’s address
The patron of the community, Chief Gezani, addressed the gathering. His stated aim is to empower Gezani people to build a resilient and prosperous future, with the emphasis on the sustainable use of locally available resources so that those resources still benefit generations to come.
The Xibhelana dance, 2026 edition
The Xibhelana dance remains the clearest and most joyful expression of Xangani heritage, and the 2026 edition drew dancers of every age. The pleated skirts, the stamping and the drums held the arena for much of the afternoon, with a packed crowd watching from every side.
What makes the dance a living tradition rather than a display is that it is handed down: the youngest children stood at the edge of the circle and clapped the rhythm while their elders danced, and visiting guests were pulled in to join rather than merely watch.
Music and entertainment
The musician Gazora performed at the Gezani Day 2026 event, part of a programme of music and performance that kept the arena full through the day.
The Gezani Tournament
Dhafi Primary School were crowned winners of the Gezani Tournament. At the prize-giving, Mr Maluleke handed the cup over to the victorious soccer team, alongside boxes of prizes distributed to participating schools.
The schools tournament is one of the most keenly followed parts of the day, and it has been growing — Bondela School joined the competition for the first time this year.
Heritage carved from hardwood
One of the day’s most striking exhibitions was a table of artifacts, all made from locally available hardwood by Gezani carvers. On display were:
- scorpions
- men’s trouser belts
- caps
- plates
- the coat of arms
- the Zimbabwe bird
- fish
The piece that drew the most attention was the wooden flexible belt: cut from a single piece of hardwood, but worked so finely that it bends around the waist like leather. Pieces like these range from office display items to things used every day at home.
Neighbours helping neighbours
Gezani Day 2026 also carried a philanthropic programme: food handouts were issued to the elderly and to people living with disabilities. The initiative was organised and funded by Gezani people to assist fellow Gezani people — self-reliance put into practice rather than only spoken about.
Looking ahead: a Vocational Training Centre
The craft on display at Gezani Day is not only heritage; it is evidence of a workforce. Some youths already use a variety of indigenous trees to make artifacts that range from office displays to household items. Building on that, the community is seeking development partners to help establish and construct a Vocational Training Centre in Ward 13, with three objectives:
- Marketable skills — to equip young people with carpentry, welding, computer literacy, tailoring and agriculture.
- Youth opportunity — to reduce youth unemployment and the rampant illegal crossing into neighbouring South Africa.
- Self-reliance — to support community self-reliance and economic development, in line with Vision 2030 and National Development Strategy 1.
Gezani Day 2027
The next commemoration has been set for Friday, 25 June 2027. Planning committees will begin work in the coming months, and the community, the diaspora and our partners are all invited.
Partner with us
If your organisation would like to support the Vocational Training Centre, sponsor Gezani Day 2027, or work with our carvers and artisans, we would like to hear from you.
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