Tumaini Festival impresses
Tumaini Festival once again proved to be a unique platform for refugees and Malawians to showcase their talents and culture.
The two-day free-entry festival also gave Malawian female artists an opportunity to show their unique talents
With huge crowds, the festival had five stages, namely the main stage, youth stage, poetry corner, theatre corner and culture ground which was used for traditional dances.
The fest featured live music, films, theatre, dance, comedy, traditional food, arts exhibitions, workshops and poetry.
Chapaty once again was the most popular food at the event.
Patrons were seen up and down buying various artworks of refugees while enjoying music and other activities such as acrobatics, dance and poetry.
Tumaini, which in Swahili means “Hope”, was created in 2014 and has been giving refugees an opportunity to share aspects of their lives with interested visitors, to exhibit and sell their crafts and to feel the hope of connecting with the wider community.
On the first day, artists such Trizah Titus, Crazy Colours Amahoro Drummers performed to the satisfaction of patrons.
Though the event started on a low due to the rising heat, it picked up as the day progressed.
In a separate interview, Plan Malawi International project manager responsible for asylum seekers Wezzie Kamphale hailed the just-ended festival as an effective means of promoting peaceful coexistence.
She said the festival brings together people from different places and with different cultures which promotes interaction.
Kamphale, therefore, said this was the reason Plan Malawi International pumped K12.8 million into the organisation of the festival.
“This event promotes exchange of cultural beliefs between Malawians and the refugees from various countries,” she said.
Kamphale said her organisation was also delighted with the participation of young people.
Harry Banda, a patron, said this year’s Tumaini Fest was simply the best.
“This is probably the best arts festival That I have ever experienced,” he said.
The performances ranged from music, drama, poetry, dance and acrobatics.
