New cultural music festival launched
Pakhonde Ethnomusic Festival was launched on Friday at Chingalire Cultural Centre in Nsalu, Lilongwe was launched on Friday.
The aim of the festival is to use music to preach about preservation of culture and protection of the environment.
The festival is designed and managed by Music Crossroads together with Chingalire Cultural Centre and The Festival Institute.
Speaking during the launch, Music Crossroads director of music Ghayiye Mathews Mfune expressed gratitude that the aspirations of the three groups have been accomplished.
“I am glad that we have finally launched the festival where youth locally and from other African countries will come and learn how to weave folk songs as a way of preserving culture and protecting the environment,” he said.
Mfune said performances during the launch depict Malawian and African traditions which the festival is promoting.
Ben Michael Mankhamba, the architect of Chingalire Music Centre and one of aunthentic traditional music artists, said the very heart of Pakhonde Music Festival is tradition and environment.
“We expect returns from this festival especially on the cultural preservation and environment conservation aspects. We have experienced a surge of moral decadance due to lack of parental guidance on culture,” he said. After his performance, Changalire Dancing Troupe through dances showcased tribal disciplines such as bowing or kneeling before elders.
