Harare, Zimbabwe Gilbson Sarari has been wearing a huge smile on his face in recent days.

The head and director of Zvido Zvevanhu Arts Ensemble of Zimbabwe can barely contain the news that his group will tour China at the end of this month, an event that has already made headlines in the country's capital Harare.

The upcoming China tour is the first of its kind for this group. They are scheduled to perform at the Beijing World Park in southern Beijing together with other groups from about 120 countries. The tour will last for six months, during which they may also perform in other capacities.

Established in 1982, Zvido Zvevanhu Arts Ensemble is a community-based theatre and dance group with 14 members. In the local Shona language, Zvido Zvevanhu means "we wish."

The group has gradually formed its own special style of performance in the past 24 years.

The members are both dancers and singers who can perform for more than three hours without any repetitions. Programmes include not only Africa's traditional singing and dance, but also contemporary dance and drama. They can also play African orchestra bongo music as well, which is a fusion of African drums, calabash, Marimba, percussion, guitars and keyboard.

The group has made an impact on the arts industry, especially when it performed at the Umdala Wethu Gala in 2000 and at Miss Zimbabwe, Miss Malaika and Hifa in 2002. It is a NAMA (National Arts Merit Award) award nominee for the Best Dance Group and Best Choreographers for 2002 and 2005 respectively.

The group is also the current holder of the 2005 United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Peace and Development Project award, and features a 2005 NAMA Best Male Dancer.

(China Daily April 21, 2006)