New culture initiative to enhance unity
A new cultural initiative aimed at enhancing unity among various tribes in the country has been launched in Lilongwe.
The initiative called Tidziwane, seeks to demystify the practices of various tribes by bringing them to the open to allow all Malawians to appreciate them.
Speaking in Lilongwe on Sunday during the launch of the initiative, one of the coordinators, Sharifa Abdulla Bunn, said Tidziwane, which is based on the Mudziwathu Participatory model, will be bringing people from various tribes and racial groups to the platform so that Malawians share, learn, experience and appreciate each other’s cultures.
Bunn said the move will also see people drawing on the similarities and promote understanding of the diverse nature of the Malawian village.
“The Mudziwathu (Our Village) is a participatory model that works with cultural knowledge systems and structures in collaboration with cultural authorities and communities to identify and respond to issues related to national unity.
“The concept of Mudziwathu positions Malawi as one big village, our village. While we are working towards building partnerships that will support full implementation of the model, we have taken a proactive step to start with what we can,” Bunn said.
During the launch, the initiative showcased the practices of the Chewas from Group Village Headman Miyowe, Senior Chief Chauma in Dedza District.
Among others, the Chewas shared their traditions around chieftaincy through narration and performance.
Another coordinator of the initiative, Rhoda Malowa Mauluka, said Tidziwane is a crucial response to the persistent cultural tensions that often paralyse the country’s development, often fuelled by lack of understanding of each other’s beliefs and traditions.
