The annual free-of- charge Tumaini Festival led by Tumaini Letu kicked off Thursday with a number of workshops with performances taking centre stage Friday and Saturday at Dzaleka Refugee Camp in Dowa.
People are set to be treated to performances on Kwizera and Elikva stages as well as cultural ground, poetry and theatre corners and the arts arena to feature an art exhibition starring artists such as Ellis Singano, Emmanuel Phale, Cris Taulo and Serge Kasongo.
Some of the groups to stage their plays on the Theatre corner include Chanco Travelling Theatre, YDC Theatre, Destination Talents and Tamba Africa whereas the Cultural Ground will star Gule Wamkulu, Chingalire Cultural Troupe, Dzaleka Acrobats, Fashion in the Dust and Amahoro Drummers.
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The Elikva stage today will feature artists such as Nyandoro Mthenga, Martha Mituka, Code Sangala, Eli Njuchi and Skeffa Chimoto.
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Saturday, the list of performers on the Elikva stage include Peter Mawanga, who returns to the stage after a long absence, Suffix, Kamuzu Barracks, Tay Grin, Maggie Kadrum and DJs Bubblegum and Mighty Virus.
The festival’s founder Menes la Plume, real name Tresor Mpauni, who is also an artist, said Thursday that this year’s festival is the most significant.
“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. The Malawian and refugee communities have been disconnected somehow due to the Malawi Government’s return to the camp order,” he said.
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.
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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.
Tumaini Letu Communications and Marketing Adviser, 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.
