Veterans dance through the ages

For members of Veterans Dance Troupe, performance is about much more than just entertaining audiences. It is a way of showcasing and promoting Malawian culture and heritage.

“Our goal is to promote culture and heritage. When we perform on stage, we represent the way of living across the nation from diverse ethnic groups from Chitipa to Nsanje,” said the troupe’s director Divason Kamanga.

The group, formed in 2020, has 20 members comprising both veterans and young people with a common goal to pass on culture.

Founding members belonged to the country’s National Dance Troupe, formerly Kwacha Cultural Troupe, founded in 1987 to revive, perform and preserve various traditional dances.

“After we left Kwacha Cultural Troupe, we decided to start our own dance troupe and that is how Veteran Dance Troupe was born. What we have is talent and we did not want to see it go to waste,” Kamanga said.

The eldest member of the group is 65 while the youngest is 21.

The group performs mwinoghe, ching’ande, malipenga, chilimika, beni, vimbuza, manganje, tchopa, chisamba and kanchoma, despite these dances belonging to different tribes in Malawi.

Beyond the choreography, the group has embraced the role of cultural ambassadors by composing songs that address contemporary issues while partnering different organisations to raise awareness on various sensitive issues.

Dancer, Elizabeth Manjolo said they have on several occasions used the talent to champion society norms that are destructive.

“As a group, we compose songs that address different societal challenges and champion different issues such as adult illiteracy, HIV and Aids and safe motherhood,” she said.

In a world that often underestimates the capabilities of older individuals, the Veterans Dance Troupe stands as a testament to the enduring spirit of creativity, resilience and the timeless power of cultural expression.

According to Kamanga, age is not a limit and the group is focused to see the dream live than let it die.

“We do not want to see this group die while we are alive, we want to see it go forward to promote culture through dances until the next generations understand the Malawian culture,” he said.

Recognising the importance of intergenerational collaboration, the troupe opened its doors to young men and women.

The infusion not only breathes new life into their performances, but also fosters an enriching exchange of ideas and traditions, bridging the gap between the old and the young.

In an interview, 21-year-old dancer Richard Ngutwa said he decided to join the group to know more about different cultures.

“Coming here I was positive that I would gain knowledge on different aspects, including culture, life but also how we relate with others as per Malawian traditions and culture and with time I have learned a lot that I did not know about various cultures dances and good manners,” he said.

Another member, Juliana Mankhokwe added: “These days as young girls and boys we lack proper guidance and we sometimes end up making bad decisions that usually land us in trouble like early pregnancies, alcohol abuse but being here will help us know what behaviours are expected from us as young people.”

But despite the happy tours  the troupe has made through the years, they have not been without challenges. The group members cite lack of support and funding hindering them to reach wider audiences.

“Malawians look down on activities that promote our cultural heritage, as such the support that we get is not enough. More people need to start supporting dance groups so that as artists we also benefit. Even as a country, we are more focused on other activities like sports while cultural activities like traditional dances are sidelined,” Manjolo said.

Said Kamanga: “Promoting culture in Malawi is disregarded by many key players that we do not put much effort to invest in cultural activities. For a long time, we have been hearing about the establishment of a cultural centre, but we have not seen it come to life yet.”

He also said that despite their impact, their work lacks funding to sustain different activities.

As they continue dancing through the ages, their journey unfolds as a reminder that the pursuit of passion and celebration of culture knows no bounds.