Lilongwe Girls Secondary School emerged champions at this year’s National Arts Festival (Nasfest) and International Youth Cultural Festival held at Madsoc Theatre in Lilongwe from Friday to on Sunday.
The school performed the play titled Ndatopa in line with the festival’s theme of preserving folklore.
The play features Ndatopa, a woman desperate for a child who defies warnings from the village elders and enters the ‘forbidden forest’.
On her journey, she faces mad wanderers, vengeful spirits and vanishing roads. But just as she begins to lose hope, an old woman reveals a secret path that leads her to a sacred ‘singing door’ where she finds an infant wrapped in golden leaves.
The story, brought to life through folksongs and storytelling, highlights the power of perseverance, faith and sticking to one’s roots and culture.
In an interview on Saturday, Lilongwe Girls patron Desiree Namachotsa expressed excitement with the victory. She said the girls delivered an outstanding performance despite the short time for preparation.
“The girls are happy because they put everything into the performance. They deserved to win,” she said.
Desiree commended Nasfest for providing a platform for young people in schools to showcase their talent and deepen their appreciation of culture.
“With such a platform, young talent is nurtured and also helps them connect with the values of our culture. Culture is at the centre of these performances,” she said.
Lilongwe Girls took home K500 000, second placed Likuni Boys Secondary School bagged K300 000 while New Generation Secondary School went away with K200 000.
Likuni Boys play was titled Ripples of remorse while New Generation had The treasured gift.
In an interview, Light of Youth Creative Organisation director James Kitchen said the festival is designed to help youths to recognise the power of arts while fostering cultural exchange.
Minister of Tourism Vera Kamtukule, who opened the ceremony, hailed organisers for the festival’s continuous growth and impact on the arts sector, particularly in engaging young people.
“This festival is playing a crucial role in nurturing artistic talent while ensuring that our cultural heritage remains alive across generations,” she said.
The annual event brought together local and international schools and art groups to showcase their talents and promote cultural diversity.
Participants were drawn from South Africa, Zambia and Malawi.
