The Embassy of India in Harare organized Lok Kala Sandhya (Folk Dance Evening) at India House, showcasing the rich cultural traditions of Gujarat through a flagship performance by the 11-member Sanskruti Dance Academy, sponsored by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR). The inaugural evening was graced by Honourable Emily Jesaya, Deputy Minister of Sports, Recreation, Arts and Culture of Zimbabwe, as the Chief Guest, while H.E. Mr. Bramha Kumar, Ambassador of India to Zimbabwe, delivered the opening remarks.

In his address, Ambassador Bramha Kumar underlined the deep-rooted cultural ties between India and Zimbabwe, tracing them back to the 16th century when Goa, on India’s western coast, served as the Portuguese hub for missionary activities. “It was during this period that the Mutapa kingdom of Zimbabwe established cultural and trading relations with India, connections that have stood the test of time and continue to flourish through our diaspora and cultural exchanges,” he remarked.

Honourable Emily Jesaya, in her keynote address, emphasized the enduring people-to-people links between the two nations. “India and Zimbabwe share centuries-old historical contacts, dating back to the time of the Munhumutapa kingdom. Gujarati traders, who settled here in the early 19th century, became an integral part of our society and contributed to our economy and liberation struggle. Today, Zimbabwe is proud to host around 10,000 persons of Indian origin—a peaceful, law-abiding and highly successful community,” she said. She also recalled that in 2024, President Dr. Emmerson Mnangagwa conferred the Royal Order of Mutapa upon Mr. Devanand Popatlal, a distinguished Person of Indian Origin, in recognition of his contributions to Zimbabwe’s freedom struggle.

Founded in 1950 by Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, ICCR has been India’s premier cultural diplomacy institution under the Ministry of External Affairs. With 38 cultural centres abroad, it fosters global friendships through art, dance, music, yoga, literature, and cultural exchanges. Ambassador Kumar highlighted ICCR’s role, saying, “Events like Lok Kala Sandhya exemplify ICCR’s mission to act as India’s cultural ambassador across the world, connecting people through heritage and shared values.”

The visiting troupe, Sanskruti Dance Academy, is led by Ms. Anjanaben Devprasad Agravat, an accomplished artist trained in Kathak and Sanskrit, and empanelled with ICCR and Sangeet Natak Akademi. Having represented India at multiple international platforms—from the Middle East to Africa and Europe—Ms. Agravat has trained thousands of students in the folk traditions of Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Maharashtra. “Our aim is to preserve India’s folk traditions while fostering mutual respect and understanding across cultures,” she stated.

Following the inaugural event in Harare, Lok Kala Sandhya was further showcased in Bulawayo on 28 September 2025 at the Hindu Community Centre. The troupe will next perform in Mutare on 30 September 2025 at Queens Hall (1630 hrs).

India and Zimbabwe’s cultural relations have steadily grown stronger since the signing of the MoU on Cultural Cooperation shortly after Zimbabwe’s independence. In recent years, the Embassy of India in Harare has organized major cultural events including Namaste Zimbabwe in 2022 and its second edition in 2023, featuring diverse Indian art forms and musical traditions.

The evening concluded with a vote of thanks by Ambassador Kumar, who acknowledged the support of the Indian diaspora, local partners, and Zimbabwean friends of India. “Our cultural ties are not only about performance and art, but also about the deep-rooted friendship and solidarity between our peoples,” he said.