Malawi’s Maseko Ngoni celebrate culture: Inkosi Kanduku scoops Gomani V Tree-planting Award

Malawi vice president Saulos Chilima speaking on Saturday at  Umhlangano wa Maseko, an annual cultural event to celebrate values and traditions of the Maseko Ngoni in  Ntcheu said culture and traditions have potential to unite people of diverse beliefs and backgrounds.

(From left to right) Inkosi Kanduku of Mwanza, Inkosi ya Makosi Gomani V, Vice President Chilima and Inkosi ya Makosi M'mbelwa V take to the floor in Ngoma Dance - Pic. By Kondwani Magombo
(From left to right) Inkosi Kanduku of Mwanza, Inkosi ya Makosi Gomani V, Vice President Chilima and Inkosi ya Makosi M’mbelwa V take to the floor in Ngoma Dance – Pic. By Kondwani Magombo
Young Ngoni girls performing Uyeni dance - Pic. By Kondwani Magombo
Young Ngoni girls performing Uyeni dance – Pic. By Kondwani Magombo
Chilima tries on a wrist band, one of the Ngoni artifacts displayed at the Umhlangano - Pic. By Kondwani Magombo
Chilima tries on a wrist band, one of the Ngoni artifacts displayed at the Umhlangano – Pic. By Kondwani Magombo
Two 'queens' of the Maseko Ngoni who was also centre of attraction at the Umhlango - Pic. By Kondwani Magombo
Two ‘queens’ of the Maseko Ngoni who was also centre of attraction at the Umhlango – Pic. By Kondwani Magombo

Chilima graced the occasion alongside ministers of Health Peter Kumpalume, Patricia Kaliati (Information) and Grace Chiumia (Sports and Culture).

The 2016 Umhlangano was held at the usual Mkolimbo Village where Inkosi Gomani Chikuse was brutally killed by the British colonial leaders in 1896 and he was buried right there.

The event drew Ngoni representatives from Mozambique and South Africa and locally, other tribal groups such as Lhomwes, Tongas and Chewas were also in attendance.

Patrons were treated to Ngoni foods such as roast meat and traditional beer such as Masese.

Meanwhile, Inkosi Kanduku of Mwanza is the winner of the Inkosi ya Makosi Gomani V Tree-planting award beating eighteen makosi of the Maseko Ngoni under Gomani V.

The initiative was introduced by Inkosi Gomani V in 2015 at the yearly Umhlangano wa Ngoni event in a bid to fight deforestation throughout the Maseko Ngoni teritory.

Gomani declared Kanduku winner of the initiative at the Umhlangano event and the Maseko Ngoni King awarded Kanduku with a cow.

The Maseko Ngoni leader said Kanduku had planted 467, 308 trees during the last tree planting season leading the rest of the makosi and that he deserved the award.

“Looking at the gap between the winner and his runners-up, I have decided to only award the Number 1 for the effort he has shown so that this encourages the rest of the makosi to do better than they did last growing season,” Gomani said.

Runners-up to Kanduku, according to Gomani, were Inkosi Masasa with 290,396 trees; and Inkosi Ganya with 207, 400 trees.

He announced that the coming next season, the initiative would extend to Mozambique’s Inkosi Zimtambira who is also under the Maseko Ngoni leadership.

Inkosi Kanduku was all smiles with the award saying he would encourage his subjects to plant more trees to address the deforestation challenge which he said was heavily affecting his area.

Prior to the main event, the Veep, the ministers and other selected delegates laid wreaths on the resting place of Gomani Chikuse.

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The Analyst
The Analyst
7 years ago

O………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………O Aaaaaaaa, koma tu some of these girls are nice! . . . but if you hear their stories, you will be surprised. You see, the God we serve; is a very strange God. . . . He blesses a woman; with a face that holds men captive; but curse her with chaotic chest, legs, feet etc. . . . He blesses a girl; with intelligence but curse her with ordinary looks. . . . If at all a girl is blessed with both looks and intelligence, she is cursed with oodles of unmannerliness. . . . He blesses a… Read more »

Khombe Kay
Khombe Kay
7 years ago

Good move the Masekos. In Chichewa Maseko simply means “mafuwa” – the stones placed around the fire when cooking to place a pot. The Masekos are actually a breakaway group among the Swati ethnic group from the Zulu tribe as well. Those who went with the name of Ngunis are the “Zondendaba group” who are currently settled in Mchinji, Kasungu, Dowa, LL, Mzimba, Zambia, Northern and western tip of Mozambique, Tanzania and some moved up to Kenya.

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