Tonga Heritage celebrations on Saturday in Nkhatabay
The Tonga Heritage Foundation has confirmed that its Annual Celebrations are on this year and will take place on the Shores of Lake Malawi at Chintheche in Nkhatabay District.
One of the organisers Reverend Mezuwa Banda said a lot of activities including dances have been lined up.
Banda said they expect a unique festival as they will also have time to engage themselves in a number of Agricultural and Environmental programmes.
He said the festival will also not only be centred on Tonga Cultural beliefs but will also touch Social and Economic aspects.
Banda has therefore called upon all Malawians of different cultural values and beliefs to attend the festival.
Minister of Education, Civic Education, Culture and Economic Development Cecilia Chazama is expected to attend the festival.
The festival is aiming at preserving, promoting and protecting Tonga cultural beliefs and language among its people spread across the
country.
The Tonga’s also called ‘Batonga’ are an ethnic group largely found in the Northern part of Malawi particularly Nkhatabay District.
They are much into fishing and Cassava growing which happens to be there staple food.
Malawi is a multi-ethinic country and in recent years, different ethnic festivals and foundations have grown including Mulhakho wa
Lhomwe, Sena and Chewa Heritage Foundations.
Wow!! this is nice iwish I could be there on that date….I’m proud of Tonga tribe…
Wooow…am proud of my tribe,chigumbuli mwana mtonga.
Good news about my tribe
Am already here in Nkhata bay from Lilongwe in waiting for the said day.
Awa, mwazirwa mwanyidu, isi mbwenu nkhukhumbira peee amkoku a AKZEE
That’s good news indeed. The only major problem with the Tonga tribe is that they don’t have traceable traditional chiefs..Most of the chiefs which might be considered as theirs are infact historically, Chewa chiefs. TAs Fukamapiri, Kabunduli, Malengamzoma, Malanda etc are all Chewa chiefs who travelled together with TA Kanyenda going northwards after the break up of Malavi Kingdom.. No wonder most of the clan names of Nkhata Bay district are Chewa Clan names such as Banda, Phiri, Mwale, Nkhoma etc…True Tongas are Mandas, Mphandes, Longwes, Mhones etc..
Wishing you a successful cerebrations…
Historically Tongas and Chewas. are cousins. But people choose to distort this.
Wow it will be lovely to be part of this long awaited heritage of the Tonga