Peter, Lucius Banda steal show at Mulhako carnival
There was huge excitement when opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) president Peter Mutharika arrived at Mulhako wa Alhomwe carnival at Chonde in Mulanje on Sunday.
And the excitement continued with the presence of renowned musician and United Democratic Front (UDF) politician, Lucius Banda who arrived at the event to the chants of mostly young people who could not believe the music icon’s presence.
Other notable faces gracing the event included DPP leaders; Jean Kalilani, Nicholas Dausi, George Chaponda, Patricia Kaliati and Anna Kachikho.
There was also Blantyre City Council boss Ted Nandolo, Chief BVumbwe, retired Chief Justice Lovemore Munlo, law-maker Aaron Sangala among many other professionals and socialites.
Conspicuously missing at the event was fired minister of finance, Ken Lipenga was has been gracing the occasion every year since its inception in 2008.
The annual event, attracted people of Lhomwe culture from as far as Kasungu, Rumphi, Nsanje, Neno to celebrate their culture.
This year’s carnival budgeted at over K100 million with over 50 traditional dances like Soopa, Jiri, Sekhele, Likwata, Mambilila, Mazoma, Mganda and Pwesa were on display.
Also spicing up the event was Gule wa Mkulu from Chewa Heritage.
Aside sampling the Lhomwe dances, the patronage to the event had a chance to feast on traditional foods as well as locally brewed Masese beer and distilled Kachasu apart from opaque Chibuku beer.
Mulhako wa Alhomwe was founded in 2008 by late President Bingu wa Mutharika to provide exposure to cultural traditions of the Lhomwe tribe.
The group’s main focus is to expose children and people from other tribes and countries, to the ethnic customs such as dance, drumming, story-telling, poetry, tribal history, arts and crafts as a means of promoting self-esteem, creativity and preservation of the Lhomwe tribal customs.
