Mulhako wa Alhomwe cultural festival goes into full swing today with numerous activities expected to take place at Chonde Cultural Village in Mulanje District.
Celebrations which bring together people from diverse backgrounds started on Friday and reaches the climax today with various activities, including speeches.
Former president Peter Mutharika will be the guest of honour at the event where attendees are expected to be treated to Lhomwe traditional dances and music, food, drinks, crafted handicrafts and aphrodisiacs.
According to organising committee chairperson Felix Tambulasi, all political parties except the Malawi Congress Party (MCP), have been invited.
Tambulasi said other invitations were sent to officials from the Department of Culture, Ministry of Tourism, all paramount chiefs, adding that Zambia-based Kalonga Gawa Undi of the Chewa has confirmed his attendance.
He said: “During the celebrations, the guest of honour our former president Peter Mutharika is expected to open Mudzi wa Alhomwe with funding from Cultural Emergency Funds”.
Tambulasi said attendees must expect unique celebrations as compared to previous years.
In an interview last week, Jubeck Monjeza, one of the lead organisers, also said the cultural festival today promises to be exciting. He said they try annually to bring new elements to the cultural festival.
Among others, the festival aims to preserve and promote Lhomwe culture as well as offer a platform for people from diverse cultures to interact and share ideas.
Mulhako wa Alhomwe has largely been associated with the former governing Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) apparently because most of its leaders have in previous years held senior positions in the cultural grouping.
The grouping was established in 2007 by Bingu wa Mutharika, who also formed the DPP. Since its establishment, the cultural grouping has been holding the event annually.
Lhomwe’s are largely concentrated in districts of Chiradzulu, Mulanje, Phalombe, Thyolo and some parts of Blantyre and Zomba.
