Malawi Chewas to host annual festival October
The Chewa Heritage Malawi (Chema), locally known as Chifukwato cha a Chewa, will hold its first festival at Paramount Chief Lundu’s Mbewe headquarters in Chikwawa District on October 2.
The Chewa from Malawi, Zambia and Mozambique celebrate Kulamba every year at Mkaika in Zambia where they pay tribute to their king Kalonga Gawa Undi.
The new festival’s chairperson group village head Sosola of Salima District said Kulamba will not be affected by the local celebration.
He said: “Malawi has millions of Chewas, but there is no time for them to celebrate their culture locally. Every tribe in the country celebrate their culture except us.
“Yes, there is Kulamba, but not everyone can go there. We need a local festival where people can understand our culture.”
Senior Chief Kaluluma of Kasungu said the initiative will bring Chewa people together and discuss the challenges they face.
He agreed with Sosola that Mkaika is far and not everyone can go due to restrictions such as travel documents and logistics.
Mzuzu University lecturer Jamu Nyirenda said he was not surprised with the move as Paramount Chief Lundu has not been in good terms with Kalonga Gawa Undi.
He said: “There has been bad blood between the two as Lundu has always wanted to be regarded as top traditional leader.
“But this is a traditional event which has no effect, whether celebrated here or in Zambia. I have no problem with the decision.”
Nyirenda said he expects peace and harmony between Chewas from Zambia and Malawi because they came from the same place.
He said: “They all came from the Democratic Republic of Congo and first settled at Mankhamba in Salima District. Thereafter, Lundu and Kaphwiti left for the Lower Shire after they were accused of witchcraft. They spread up to Mozambique.
“Undi left for Mozambique and later settled in Zambia. Kalonga was left alone and became so weak that he was overpowered by the Yao tribe that came from Mozambique.”
