Umthetho cultural festival, an annual event among the Ngoni, has been cancelled this year in honour of the [fallen] Ngoni King, M’mbelwa IV, who died in February this year.
Mzimba Heritage Association general secretary Aupson Ndabazake Thole told The Nation on Thursday.
Thole said the Ngoni are still mourning the death of M’mbelwa IV which ends in February next year.
“According to Ngoni tradition, the mourning period for the Ngoni King is one year. During this time, cultural festivities are not supposed to take place. Not even a chief can be installed,” he said.
He said it is because of this that the M’mbelwa Chiefs Council met in April to cancel the festival.
“Umthetho is the time M’mbelwa speaks to his people. In the absence of the King who will speak to the people?” he said.
Thole said, as a cover up, the association will organise a one week workshop for traditional leaders in the district to train them in ways of safeguarding the endangered traditions and beliefs.
Umthetho is a yearly event where all Ngoni’s in the country and Zambia come together to celebrate their tradition. It takes place in August at Hora Heritage Centre in Mzimba.
