Mutare Museum is a regional museum under the National Museums and Monuments of Zimbabwe. It started as a general museum and subsequently developed into one which specializes in the collection of transport and antiquities. Mutare Museum boasts of being the Nation’s leader in Transport and Antiquities collection. Mutare Museum was initially established by local enthusiasts as the Umtali Museum Society in 1954, before becoming a National Museum in 1959.  Its most spectacular collection of vintage cars, motorbikes and wagons, coaches and steam engines was donated to the Museum by local enthusiastic collectors and the first Honorary Curator, Captain E. F. Boultbee.

The Mutare Museum study group embarked on a collective research journey taking the group into Mhakwe Community in Chimanimani District of Eastern Zimbabwe. The intention of the project was to document traditional dances and music that resulted in a digital exhibition in the museum. The project involved all study group members at Mutare Museum, community members and stakeholders (for example members of the Mhakwe community such as the traditional leaders: Chiefs and Kraal Heads, singers, dancers and other participants). The project experimented with a collective structure of research and documentation, in which designated tasks were democratised across designated professional roles.

Study group members

Dr Paul Mupira Archeologist and Regional Director for National Museums and Monuments (Eastern Region), Chiedza Nyengeterai Zharare PhD candidate, Curator of Antiquities at Mutare Museum and the Head of the Antiquities department, Pesanai Musakaruka  community coordinator in Mhakwe (Chimanimani District), Lloyd Makonya Regional Marketing and Public Relations officer for the National Museums and Monuments of Zimbabwe’s (NMMZ) eastern region, Talent Sithole Museum docent/guide at the National Museums and Monuments of Zimbabwe, Shingirai Sakarombe Archaeologist and Assistant Curator of Archaeology at Mutare Museum, Martin Nyamatedya Regional Heritage Education Officer for the eastern region of the National Museums and Monuments of Zimbabwe, Augustine Musendo Curatorial Assistant in the department of Antiquities, Confidence Matanhire Office Orderly and photographer for Mutare Museum, Blessing Mukozhiwa Provincial Culture Officer for Manicaland Province under the Ministry of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation, Brighton Mahwite Curatorial Assistant in the Botany/Zoology Department at Mutare Museum, Trevor Shiku exhibitions officer for the eastern region, (Manicaland province), Shadreck Majinje professional carpenter and Maintenance Officer, Nyaradzo Mutize Senior Book-keeper for the eastern region of National Museums and Monuments of Zimbabwe, Ian Sigauke Human Resources Assistant, Stewart Bhaira Acting Regional Security Officer