Traditional leaders and high-profile delegates from Southern Africa converged at the foot of Hora Mountain over the weekend where the annual Umthetho Cultural Festival lived up to its billing as it displayed cultural pride, youthful energy and regional unity.
From Friday afternoon, streams of enthusiasts, predominantly youths, trekked from surrounding districts and beyond to Mzimba for what has fast-become one of Malawi’s most anticipated cultural gatherings.
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By nightfall, the festival had burst into life. There were overnight performances that lit up the venue, with music, dance and celebration stretching deep into the surrounding forests. For many, the experience exceeded expectation.
“It’s my first time coming here. I’m sure it won’t be my last. I never thought cultural nights could be this exciting. I don’t remember the last time I enjoyed myself so much,” said Sezangakhona Moyo, 18, from Eswazini in the district.
His excitement mirrored that of a generation often starved of structured entertainment, especially in rural Malawi. Yet, for a fleeting but powerful moment, Mzimba became the epicentre of it all including beer, meat on open fires and laughter filling the cool air.
The scale of activity told its own story. Sexual and reproductive health service providers reported ‘brisk business’ throughout the night while the aftermath around the venue bore silent testimony to the intensity of the festivities.
Beyond the fun lay the deeper essence of Umthetho: culture, identity and unity.
This year’s edition drew a strong regional presence, with Ngoni royalty and delegations from Zambia, South Africa, Mozambique and Tanzania in attendance; reaffirming long-standing historical ties that transcend borders.
Among those present were Inkosi ya Makhosi Gomani V of the Maseko Ngoni, host Ngwenyama M’mbelwa V of the Jere Ngoni, Inkosi ya Makhosi Zintambira of Mozambique and Inkosi ya Makhosi Zulu Gama of the Njelu Ngoni of Tanzania alongside representatives linked to the Mphezeni Royal Establishment of Zambia.
Their presence underscored a shared heritage that continues to bind Ngoni communities across the region.
On the political front, Second Vice-President Enock Chihana attended on behalf of President Peter Mutharika while First Vice-President Jane Ansah, a Maseko Ngoni impi, also graced the event.
“Culture is our indelible identity. It teaches us who we are, how we live and it binds us together as one nation under God,” said Chihana, adding that Umthetho is “more than a festival” as it strengthens regional integration and national cohesion.
Ansah, who attended as an impi of Inkosi ya Makhosi Gomani V, described the gathering as “a deeply meaningful experience,” noting that it offered an opportunity to reconnect with roots, honour traditions and reflect on values that have shaped communities over generations.
Speeches from Ngwenyama M’mbelwa V and other cultural leaders echoed similar sentiments, emphasising unity, cultural preservation and sustainable development that reflected themes central to this year’s festival.
Meanwhile, a visiting South African royal, Prince Wandile Celimpilo Ngobese of the Khiphinkunzi Traditional Authority in KwaZulu-Natal, continued to draw admiration. A son of Inkosi Thathezakhe Ngobese under King Misuzulu kaZwelithini, he has become a familiar figure at Ngoni cultural gatherings, having attended uNcwala in Zambia and the funeral of Inkosi ya Makhosi Mphezeni IV.
