Organisers of Gonapamuhanya Cultural Festival have begun preparations for this year’s event scheduled for October 4 at Kadumuliro Cultural Centre in Rumphi District.
The annual festival is a celebration of the life and legacy of the first Tumbuka king Gonapamuhanya and its culture.
Speaking in an interview yesterday, the festival’s organising committee chairperson Group Village Headman Jeyeka Mbale said preparations have started earlier to accommodate more activities that have been planned.
“We want to have ample time for planning various activities, including construction of a tombstone in honour of our first king [Gonapamhanya],” he said.
According to Mbale, the burial site of the king will be a historical monument that will help preserve the kings’ history and allow people to pay homage.
He said the festival has been taking place at Bolero, but from this year going forward, it will be held at Kadumuliro.
“The place has a cultural background where the first community court was. So it is ideal for the event,” he said.
The committee has set a budget of K46 million, with fundraising efforts already underway. It also apeals for sponsorship and partnerships.
Tumbuka Heritage national deputy coordinator Benard Gondwe said more details will be announced in the coming weeks, including the line-up of activities and invited guests.
“We expect more people from different countries and within the country who will know a lot about Tumbuka cultural history,” he said.
The event has in the past invited traditional leaders from different cultures, government officials and cultural enthusiasts from across the country.
The festival is expected to feature activities such as traditional music and dance perfomances, display of local cuisine, Tumbuka heritage and cultural history.
It will run under the theme Culture and Integrity: The Backbone of Development.
