Tumaini Festival to go ahead
After sounding an SOS last week following failure to secure funds for the 2022 Tumaini Festival, organisers have announced that they have raised over half of the K15 million budget for the festival.
In an interview yesterday, founder and director of the festival Menes La Plume, real name Tresor Mzengu Mpauni, said the response of well-wishers to their distress call has been overwhelming.
“Many people were sad to hear that the festival was going to be cancelled due to unavailability of funds so they started donating both local and those outside Malawi. We are also negotiating with two international organisations from Germany and Canada whom we will announce next week,” he said.
La Plume said as organisers they are sure that they will achieve their budget needs before the end of next week.
“Many felt Tumaini is crucial in promoting culture and coexistence and cancelling it was going to be regrettable. The international community also feels the festival should be replicated in other countries,” he said.
During an interview last week, Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Wildlife spokesperson Symon Mbvundula said as a ministry they support the festival and its objectives.
“Over the years we have had our officials participate in this unique festival. We are behind Tumaini,” he said.
Tumaini is a Swahili word which means hope. The festival brings together refugees from different nationalities to celebrate their different cultures on one platform while encouraging friendships and coexistence.
It is free of charge and takes place annually at Malawi’s biggest refugee camp, Dzaleka in Dowa.
