Malawi Government through the Ministry of Culture, Arts and Tourism has commended Tumaini Letu’s flagship program, the Tumaini festival, for bringing different nations, traditions, cultures and races together.
Speaking during the official opening of Tumaini Festival 2022 on Friday, 4th November, the Director of Arts in the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Culture, Humphrey Mpondaminga, said the festival gives a space to the refugees to showcase their talent and interact with the wider world.
“Tumaini festival gives space to the minority groups so that they celebrate their heritage. It is amazing that the festival is happening here at Dzaleka Refugee Camp where we have people from Rwanda, Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Somalia, Ethiopia among others. This is an achievement even to the Malawi Government for such an event to be happening within the camp,” Mpondaminga said.
The Director of Arts said it is necessary for Malawi as a country to allow Dzaleka residents showcase their talents regardless of their background.
“Let us appreciate that other people can showcase their talent regardless of their background. We are one and we have one heritage. We have a lot of things in common. The dances performed at Tumaini Festival by our fellow brothers and sisters from other countries resemble to our‘ vimbuza’, gule wamkulu and other dances.
“The festival also allows Malawians to learn one or two things from what our brothers are capable of through sharing the same platform,” he said.
In his remarks, the founder and director of Tumaini festival Tresor Nzengu Mpauni widely known as Menes La Plume reiterated that Tumaini Letu through Tumaini festival will continue using entertainment and artistic expression to promote intercultural harmony, mutual understanding, and peaceful coexistence between refugees and their host community.
Speaking at the same event, United States of America (USA) Ambassador to Malawi, David Young, commended Tumaini Festival for offering a platform where culture and arts can be shared.
Some of the artists who performed at the festival include Gwamba, Don Tarz, AB Deevado, Atohti Manje, Provoice, Ethel Kamwendo Banda and Nyago among others.
Tumaini Festival was founded in 2014. It is an extraordinary example of a large-scale cultural event within a refugee camp, created and run by refugees in collaboration with the surrounding host community, for the benefit of both. It also serves as a platform for advocacy on refugee rights.
Tumaini festival is a unique cultural event which uses entertainment and artistic expression to promote intercultural harmony, mutual understanding, and peaceful coexistence between refugees and their host community. It is the only festival of its kind in the world that is held within a refugee camp.
Tumaini Festival was founded in 2014. It is an extraordinary example of a large-scale cultural event within a refugee camp, created and run by refuge es in collaboration with the surrounding host community, for the benefit of both. It also serves as a platform for advocacy on refugee rights. Dzaleka Refugee Camp is a home of over 50,000 refugees and asylum seekers.
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