The might of traditional dances

Traditional dances might as well be the country’s tool in events if the performance of the dances during the launch and hand over of 1 000 bicycles and 10 motorcycles to the National Initiative for Civic Education (Nice) Trust and its volunteers by the European Union at Group Village Head (GVH) Pinda in Mchinji recently is anything to by.

Gulewamkulu, Ingoma, Chisamba and Chitelera are some of the traditional dances that thrilled a mammoth of people who converged at the venue to witness the launch with their exquisiteness in performance.

First to perform was Gulewamkulu. Its ascendance to the dancing arena, the regalia and the vintage dancing prowess; soothed patron’s souls, even those who had a heap of problems at home forgot them at once.

Yes! The traditional dance proved to be the giant among the Chewa in the Central Region.

To avoid being outwitted, Ingoma of Mchinji sang hilarious songs which sent patrons on cloud nine. They broke into an extraordinary jovial mood when the dance took it to the dancing floor, attracting others to dish out money.

Chisamba and Chitelera also dished out their best. Their splendid performance did not go in vain as they attracted a standing ovation from the gatherers.

Even the Member of Parliament for the area, Deus Gumba Banda had no better words than describing the whole event as awesome and well-organised.

“I’ve been a Member of Parliament for this area for quite some time but I have never witnessed such a glamorous event. This is excellent and I hope everybody has enjoyed the gathering,” asserted Gumba.

He asked the traditional dances to continue doing more and exciting people, saying this could be the only avenue of bringing people of diverse backgrounds together to disseminate information.

Group Village Head (GVH) Pinda also expressed gratitude with the traditional dances.

He said as a chief together with others will take it as a next assignment to nurture them as there are more in traditional dances just like other performances.

“I didn’t know that people revere traditional dances but today I have seen it myself that the dances are another ‘mediums’ of putting a large audience together to disseminate information,” stressed Pinda.

“I am a driver who works with Nice. By virtue of being a driver I do travel a lot and witness many functions especially here in the centre region. But today I am really convinced that Gulewamkulu could be another tool of cajoling people to attend functions,” said Lackson Million.

He suggested if organizers of functions in the country could start using gulewamkulu, there will be a likelihood of impressive patronage of such events.

Speaking before the launch, European Union (EU) head of delegation, Marchel Gerrmann said he was honoured to be at the launch to distribute the bicycles.

“I always enjoy meeting with communities and seeing first-hand the contribution that EU’s support can make at the grassroots level,” he said.

He asserted that the bicycles were given to the volunteers to ease their mobility as they carry out a pivotal role of empowering Malawians with civic empowerment and education campaigns to take part in public life and decision-making processes.

Gerrmann further indicated that EU will remain committed to support Malawi including organization such as Nice to contribute towards the promotion of democracy and good governance through civic and voter education in order to achieve poverty reduction in Malawi.

Nice Trust Board Chairperson, Susan Kaunda was short in the arm with the support from EU, saying the bicycles will enable volunteers to bring messages closer to people’s doorstep.

“The current donation will help Nice volunteers to reach out to all the 462 wards through the current arrangement whereby some of the bicycles will benefit the community mobilizers and contact persons,” stressed Kaunda with a broader smile on her face.

Echoing Kaunda’s sentiments is Nice executive director, Ollen Mwalubunju, who says his organisation cherishes the support it gets from EU.

“Let me say that with the support from EU, Nice will not relent in its effort to enhance the ability of empowering Malawian citizens, including the disadvantaged groups to participate in public life, democratic decision-making processes, empower them to exercise their democratic rights and responsibilities at the national, district and community levels as one way of enhancing transparency and accountability,” stressed Mwabulunju. n