By Rex Mphisa
ZIMBABWEANS living in Australia have this Easter weekend gathered in Adelaide for a cultural event that includes social soccer, Zimbabwean cuisines, and children’s games and a homely get together 10 000 kilometres from home.
The event is hosted by Zimpride.
A Zimbabwean identified as “The General” who called from the festival said on air is “100 percent local content” referring to Zimbabwean music at the three-day- extravaganza.
“It started Friday and ends Sunday, it has a Zimbabwena artist Holy Ten on the closing act.
We have Zimbabweans from all Australian states and its all Shona spoken here, its lovely, homely,” he said.
“There are nine social soccer teams competing and these are from all over Australia,” he said.
Australia consists of six states and two major mainland territories. The states are New South Wales (Sydney), Victoria (Melbourne), Queensland (Brisbane), South Australia (Adelaide), Western Australia (Perth), and Tasmania (Hobart), while the main territories are the Australian Capital Territory (Canberra) and the Northern Territory (Darwin).
Organisers in are in a letter invited the Zimbos to the function which has become an annual event.
The letter written by Zimpride said they were thrilled to invite Zimbabweans to the multi-cultural show at Argana Park.
“Greetings South Australian and interstate friends! We’re thrilled to invite you to ZIMPRIDE, a spectacular multicultural soccer tournament hosted by the ZIMPRIDE organising committee of South Australia!
Join us at Argana Park on April 3rd (Opening Ceremony 6:30pm-9:30pm), April 4th (9am-9:30pm), and April 5th (9am-9:30pm) as soccer teams from across Australia come together to celebrate diversity and sportsmanship,” said the letter from Zimpride.
It invited people to come and experience Zimbabwean food, hospitality, and activities for kids!. “
The evening will be energised with music from different artists local and from Zimbabwe. The event culminates in a closing Ceremony at 6:30pm on Sunday, April 5th,” said the invitation.
A list on the menu on offer included mazondo, oxtail, sadza, mupunga une dovi and other local foods priced between $3 and $20.
As of recent data, there are over 50,000 Zimbabwe-born people residing in Australia, with estimates including their descendants reaching between 60,000 and 80,000.
This well-established, highly skilled community is primarily concentrated in Sydney, Perth, Melbourne, and Queensland.