The King Mzilikazi cultural celebrations have opened opportunities for stronger engagement between Matabeleland communities and the African diaspora, with a United States-based organisation expressing interest in investing in young people and cultural institutions.
Ronnie Dunn, popularly known as Big Sbuda and the Global Ambassador for the Africa, USA and UK Diaspora Alliance (AUUDA Africa), attended the celebrations as part of efforts to strengthen cultural, business and investment links between Africans on the continent and those living abroad.
AUUDA Africa connects members of the African diaspora in the United States and United Kingdom with communities across Africa to promote cultural, business and investment partnerships.
Dunn said he attended the King Mzilikazi commemorations after being referred to the event by King Misuzulu of KwaZulu-Natal.
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“I’m here on King Mzilikazi Day. I was referred by King Misizulu down in KZN, and he told me about this, and I had to be a part of it,” Dunn said.
“So I came down here on behalf of the Diaspora AUDA Africa. And we’re coming to see if we can invest in this place, bring resources here that are needed, have the discussions that are needed to be had with the people and with the council.”
The celebrations brought together traditional leaders, cultural groups and communities to commemorate the legacy of King Mzilikazi and celebrate Ndebele culture and traditions.
Dunn said the event also gave him an opportunity to reconnect with a history and identity he felt had been fragmented by borders and historical divisions.
“Man, it’s. Right. It’s very cultural and traditional. I mean, as somebody coming from the diaspora we want to come back home, and then getting to see what we lost, it’s heavy, you know, so I’m glad to be a part of it, y’all,” he said.
“You guys have been a great host to me, and I’ll be back, like, immediately.”
Dunn said Matabeleland’s land resources presented investment opportunities, particularly in programmes targeting young people and traditional institutions.
“I see that there’s a lot of land here, and where there’s a lot of land, there’s a lot of opportunity. And so we want to come and invest in the youth and in royalty to make sure that the power remains with the people and not too much with the government,” he said.
Dunn said reconnecting the African diaspora with communities on the continent was central to AUUDA Africa’s mission.
He said Africans had historically interacted and traded across territories before the creation of modern borders.
“And so we just try to, you know, saying, make people remember that we were all one once upon a time. There wasn’t so much confusion, like a lot of borders and stuff like that. We traded amongst each other and trying to get back to Remembrance Africa, black people,” he said.
The participation of the diaspora added an international dimension to the annual cultural event, with discussions extending beyond commemorating King Mzilikazi’s legacy to exploring potential investment and partnerships.
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