The Jere Ngoni annual cultural festival, Umthetho will this year clock 12 years and organisers say they are proud of the achievements over the years.
This year’s commemorations are scheduled to take place from August 10 at the Hora Mountain Heritage Centre in Mzimba. The festival will be celebrated under the theme Climate Change Adaptation And Disaster Response.
The festival is a celebration aimed at consolidating the Jere Ngoni cultural heritage through dance, music, dressing, language and food as well as enhancing the unity and development of Mzimba as a district.
The organisers say the ceremony has helped the Ngoni from Mzimba to connect with others from Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Nagbiro, Dowa, Ntcheu and Mchinji.
Mzimba Heritage Association secretary general Moses Mkandawire said the festival has also done well in promoting unity among Malawi-based Ngonis.
He said in line with the theme they have picked for this year’s celebration, they will engage the youth to give them a better understanding of how they can adapt to climate change and disaster response.
“As leaders of tomorrow they should understand how climate change is negatively impacting on the growth and development of our communities and the country at large. Among others we will focus on the issue of climate change,” said Mkandawire.
He said they have lately seen how climate change has impacted on the safety and security of the people, infrastructure and livelihood systems both in Malawi and neighbouring countries.
One of the Ngonis who has attended Umthetho Festival several times, Mtheto Lungu, has urged Ngoni parents to teach their children about their culture. He also encouraged local and foreign scholars to study and publish more about cultures for posterity. na
