Mtambo says Malawi to hold National Day of Cultural Celebrations: Chewa, Mulhakho, Umhlangano, Chiwanja, Umtheto in one festival

September 9, 2020 Judith Moyo - Nyasa Times 30 Comments

In his quest to meet his unifying Malawi agenda, Minister of Civic Education and National Unity Timothy Mtambo has revealed that government will soon set a date when it  will hold National Day of Cultural Celebrations.

Lomwe dances 
Boys performing Ngoma dance at Umhlangano

Mtambo made the statement during a Capital Straight Talk on Capital Radio on Tuesday.

“In Malawi, we have different cultures but people celebrate on their own, in seclusion of the other.

“We have Lhomwes celebrating on their own. So too are the Yaos, Tumbuka, Ngonis, etc. we have to change this.

“Instead of using these cultural groupings as agents of national unity, previous governments used them as agents of diconnectors,” he said.

Mtambo has since announced government’s ambitious plans of holding National Day of Cultural celebrations.

“The day will operate just the way Trade Fairs do. So we will have all cultural grouping on their space explaining to people who they are and what they do. This will enhance cultural understand and acceptance. People will begin to understand that there is beauty in cultural diversity,” he said.

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30 replies on “Mtambo says Malawi to hold National Day of Cultural Celebrations: Chewa, Mulhakho, Umhlangano, Chiwanja, Umtheto in one festival”

  1. As Ngonis, we can only hold our Umtheto at Hora Mountain. This is symbolic and we cannot move. Did Mtambo consult with the stakeholders before making such pronouncements?

  3. Just continue with Kamuzu philosophy of no Chewas, no Lomwes, no Nyachusa etc. Leave this to traditional leaders. It was very unfortunate that the dpp president was heading a tribal grouping Mlakho wa Lomwe. Other tribes hated the Lomwes who became arrogant and employed each other in top positions. Malawi is in reboot mode after cleaning the deadly and novel Sars-covid-dpp.

  5. This is the most commendable move. We need unity izizi zomati angoni, ayao, alambia, atumbuka,alhomwe, atonga achewa azipanga ma cultural awo must go

  9. Count me in on this. Actually we can use these Cultural Festivals as the traditional version of the Lake of Stars… Turn it into a Tourist Attraction like the Reed Dance of Eswatin (Swaziland). If you are to be smarter, make it a SADC Region Cultural Festival. Bring in some few cultures from Zimbabwe, Zambia, Namibia, makhirikhiri from Botswana, and our South Africans together. Then package the event under the support of big mobile companies like MTN, AirTel, MTN and Vodacom. Kumanchangamuka pa town!! Then you can ask the Geographical Channel or BBC to make a documentary to beam to the globe. You can have the whole event financed by the Private Sector under the relevant SADC and AU Departments. You will thank me years to come.

    2. Great suggestion. I buy this also. Include cultural foods as they also do in Chicago .. Food Fare/Festival. This will be great and I am sure it will excite many people.

      1. Wonderful and the cultural food aspect could be also educational for an amasikuwano a Facebook. They don’t know kukunga nsima ya kondoole. That’s the place to bring in organic and health local food. We can package it as a local health foods fair as part of the grand scheme.

    3. I concur.
      Over the years, I have been saying that ” the day Malawians will stand tall, and be proud of their culture and heritage, and stop looking at all that is theirs with contempt, it is the day all the riches that our forebears left us will be ‘poured’ and released onto us.

      I have lived in Zululand, and travelled to Eswatini many times before.
      At many occasions, I attended cultural Festivals, and can attest to the enrichment and great achievement their traditional dances, literature, fashion, music, food, theatre, logistics, art and craft, has brought to their countries.

      Our forebears left us with so much wealth in a form of Miyambi, Ndakatulo, traditional music, fashion, literature, traditional dances, arts and crafts, and many other resources.
      It is incumbent upon us to conceptualise and make the most out of all that we are and have.

      So in short, it is really a brilliant idea, a great way to promote tourism in Malawi, and also enhance our cultural heritage.
      This would also help to unite our country, while giving immesuarable opportunity for people to learn about other elements of heritage from many other tribes.

      Come to think of the wealth that would be generated through transport, accommodation,catering, sales of artefacts and other materials, and many other related services.

      1. This is really fabulous and the way to go for a united and prosperous Malawi… we got to fly above party politics and focus on such low hanging fruits.

      1. Ahaaa… that’s the way to go and we got to harness our unity for the benefit of the entire Nation. We got to put Malawi in front of this game of global or regional tourism.

  10. The only thing mtambo and tonse alliance can do to achieve unity is to go and kneel at each and every shop they looted and say sorry. Pay each shop owner compensation for the damage caused. Then may be, they will have our permission to die.

  11. To be presided over by chakwera, I believe that will be his major achievement for presidency. Now he wants all groups to compose songs praising him and his failed leadership. To mcp diversity is always bad, that’s why the party still clings to the four cornerstones of obedience, discipline, unity and loyalty to mcp leadership.

      1. which forward? kunama za fetilizer, passport, kubanja is this moving farward? tadzuka nupenye
        kodi chief secretary ndi ndani wao kwa ochakwera
        kodi numdwe ndi madam chakwera ndi ndani ake?
        nanga finance minister?
        nanga director of finance ku state residences?
        nanga mpongozi wina uja
        nanga mlamu mwana wa ntembo
        nanga msuweni mwana wa mkazi wa morgan

        i don’t this will work some of these mandate to organise their things in other way as they have legal rights

  12. What this bastard. First things first..apologise to the Lomwes, Muluzi, APM, imedi Family and the police cop you undressed. Next chapter we can talk zamagulezo

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