Tumaini Festival once again proved its uniqueness to the refugees at Dzaleka Refugee Camp in Dowa and Malawians who gathered to showcase their talents and cultures as it celebrated its 10th anniversary.
The free entry three-day event, held from Thursday to Saturday drew large crowds to the camp, where they enjoyed various performances.
This year, the festival brought together a wide range of artists, from music and dance to poetry and drama, once again reminding everyone why the festival exists in the first place.
Headlined by local stars such as Lawi, Hyphen and Jetu, the festival had no shortage of energy.
International acts from South Africa and Zimbabwe added extra excitement to the line-up, creating an atmosphere filled with African unity and creativity.
Besides the performances, festival-goers enjoyed a taste of Dzaleka’s diverse culture through food. Stalls around the camp offered dishes prepared by residents, with chapati being one of the main highlights.
The food at the event added to the warm, community-focused vibe, as people came together to enjoy flavours from around the region.
To mark the special occasion, the Tumaini Festival team, which also comprises volunteers, put on a stunning fireworks display, lighting up the sky and honouring the festival’s journey.
Tumaini has grown to become one of Malawi’s biggest festivals, and it remains the only festival in the world held within a refugee camp.
Artists from within the Dzaleka Refugee Camp brought their all to the stage, delivering performances filled with energy, passion, and pride.
The festival also marked the end of the Euro Film Festival by screening Malawian movies alongside European and other African films.
One performer from Zimbabwe’s Apama Arts traditional dance group, shared his excitement about performing at Tumaini.
“We really enjoyed being here. The crowd was amazing, and it’s inspiring to see people come together like this. This festival shows us that, as Africans, we can come together in peace and harmony,” he said.
In a speech to the crowd, Tumaini Festival director Menes Le Plume spoke about what the festival has achieved over the years.
“Tumaini was created to provide a platform for refugees and locals to connect, to encourage coexistence and after 10 years, I’m proud to say that this festival has become a space of unity and hope,” he said.
Le Plume hailed the people of Dzaleka for living peacefully together, even though they come from different countries. He said that is what Tumaini is truly about.
La Plume added that the team aspires to grow the festival to greater heights not just in Malawi but across the world for artists.
“We’re looking forward to growing even more, to give more artists a platform for cultural exchange,” he added. The festival also featured performances by Salama Africa, Born Afrikan, Maverick Mavo and Ntunja from South Africa, Jay Extra and Apama Arts.
