The cultural centre, which is called Amagugu International Heritage Centre, will focus on cultural and traditional research and documentation of Ndebele and other ethnic groups cultures.
“I have funded this project from my own resources and the project is almost complete. I bought the land for the project from the Matobo rural district council and so far two craft centre buildings with working bays and storerooms have been completed,” said Nyathi.
Nyathi said the centre, which is the first of its kind in the country, will have several cultural areas such as a craft bay, skin turning, basketry, clay making and woodwork.
“This centre will be unique in the sense that it will process cultural artefacts from raw materials such as traditional trees which will be planted at the centre and labelled with both their botanical and Ndebele names. Unlike the museum where tourists and students see a finished product, this project will be participatory.
“We want tourists and students to come to the centre and see how traditional mortar is made and at the same time learn about how to pound traditional grains using the same object,” he said.
Nyathi said the centre will also have a documentation section where all research into areas such as traditional games and food will be documented.
“This centre will be working closely with universities, particularly the Midlands State University,” he said.
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Nyathi said the centre will also have a documentation section where all research into areas such as traditional games and food will be documented.