Funding drought hits Tumaini Festival
The odds are against organisers of this year’s Tumaini Festival held annually at Dzaleka Refugee Camp in Dowa District after they failed to secure funding for the event.
In a statement released on Monday, Tumaini Festival founder and director Menes La Plume said they have challenges to raise money for hosting the free festival this year.
Reads the statement in part: “With no funding this year, we are at risk of cancelling the event. Therefore, we request corporate and non-governmental organisations as well as individuals to join us and help make this year’s festival possible.”
The statement further said Tumaini crowd funding campaign this year was not successful.
“We mostly rely on the goodwill of Tumaini fans to fund us. But this year, due to multiple economic challenges, there has not been much progress,” he said.
But La Plume said they are exploring other fundraising avenues such as hosting arts events around Lilongwe to salvage the situation.
“We are already trying to arrange for arts events which may help us raise the funds. We have not yet given up,” he said.
La Plume, who did not disclose the budget for the 2022 festival, emphasised that besides entertaining patrons the annual event brings people of different cultures together to celebrate their identities and learn to coexist.
“Tumaini is a unique experience. Not only does it bring people together, but it is a crucial aspect in the integration of refugees from different countries on a cultural and social level,” he said.
Reacting to the development, Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Wildlife spokesperson Symon Mbvundula said they are disheartened with the development.
“We are always involved and and we support the event,” he said.
However, an ardent Tumaini Festival fan, Thumbiko Mkandawire suggested that the organisers should host a smaller event according to what they have.
This year’s festival is scheduled to take place from November 3 to 6.
To help contribute to the festival, people can go to https://bit.ly/3C5zNYO for details.
