By Sam Banda Jnr & Jonas Nyasulu
The annual free-of-charge Tumaini Festival, led by Tumaini Letu, will this year run from November 2 to 5 at Dzaleka Refugee Camp in Dowa with 115 artists set to perform.
Now in its ninth edition, the festival celebrates music, poetry and art in general with artists such as Erik Paliani, Peter Mawanga and Nyandoro Mthenga set to perform.
The festival’s founder Menes la Plume, real name Tresor Mpauni, who is also an artist, said yesterday that this year’s festival is the most significant.
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“Tumaini is needed more than ever before. There is a considerable change in the lives of refugees, who have been relocated back to Dzaleka Refugee Camp. Malawian and refugee communities have been disconnected somehow due to the Malawi Government’s return to the camp order,” he said.
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Menes said the 2023 edition is meant to restore hope and joy in the hearts of refugees and to reunify the refugees and the host communities.
He said since 2014, the festival has developed “massively” with an attendance of thousands of people and 409 artists from 18 countries including Rwanda, Burundi, Zambia, Mozambique, Belgium, United Kingdom, Italy, Japan, Brazil and South Korea.
“The 115 artists this year include musicians, poets, theatre practitioners, visual artists, dancers, acrobats and other art forms.
“We also have eight workshops and exchanges in different art forms that will be hosted as side events. There are also film screenings and fashion show,” he said.
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Tumaini Festival comes up after Tumaini Letu, which is a non-profit organisation based within Dzaleka Refugee Camp, also hosted Dine With Refugees Gala Dinner in September.
The festival in September also hosted a Tumaini Cocktail Night.
Tumaini Letu Communications and Marketing Advisor, Shika Hurrydass Coley described Tumaini which means ‘Hope’ in Swahili as a movement that celebrates humanity while supporting refugees and raising global awareness about their challenges with a commitment to creating lasting meaningful change.
“Beyond the colourful performances and vibrant expressions of art, this festival stands as a powerful movement, a reminder that, as a global community, we can make a difference,” she said.
