Organisers of the annual free-of-charge Tumaini Festival, which is held at Dzaleka Refugee Camp in Dowa, said on Wednesday that they will continue to use the platform to promote mutual understanding and intercultural harmony between refugees and host communities.
The festival’s communications officer Kensomah Magombo said art is powerful, hence using artistic expression to, among others, provide opportunities for skills development through trainings and workshops as well as to boost the economy of refugees in Malawi through the provision of entrepreneurship skills and income generating opportunities.
“Our objectives are to promote the psycho-social well-being of displaced populations by providing them with opportunities for creative expression, entertainment, counseling and community events,” she said.
Tumaini Festival, running from today through to November 2, will this year celebrate its 10th anniversary.
The previous editions of the festival, whose name Tumaini means hope in Swahili, has been running for two days.
The festival has since announced some of the artists set to perform and they include Maveriq Mavo and Tunya from South Africa as well as locals Lulu, Crispy Malawi, Tigris and Hyphen.
Since its inception, the festival, according to the organisers, has been a symbol of optimism for the community, the nation and the world, gaining global recognition for its efforts towards inclusiveness and unity.
Tumaini Festival has over the years provided, among others, trade opportunities to over 2,000 refugee entrepreneurs, exposed their products, goods and services to new markets outside the camp.
The festival, to feature a combo of activities including music, poetry, acrobatics, traditional dances, theatre and films, over the past years has welcomed over 179,000 patrons and featured over 500 acts from 20 countries, creating an inclusive space for artistic expression.
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