Government has stressed on the need for concerted efforts if Malawi’s Festivals are to assist in boosting the country’s tourism sector.

Director for Arts in the Ministry Tourism, Culture and Wildlife Humphrey Mpondaminga said this at Dzaleka Refugees Camp in Dowa District when he officially opened this year’s 3-day Tumaini Festival.

He said: “This Festival is unique and it speaks to our core for celebration of cultural diversity as well as speaking to minority and disadvantaged groups so that they celebrate their heritage.

“This is a very big achievement for us because we are saying that culture is a global public good, culture should descend boundaries of our ethnic origins, let us appreciate what other people can showcase regardless of their background, we have a lot of things in common.”

According to Mpondaminga, apart from top–rated tourist attractions areas that Malawi has, Festivals like Tumaini can assist in promoting cultural tourism.

Launched in 2012 by Trésor Nzengu Mpauni – a refugee musician, writer and poet from Lubumbashi in the Southern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Tumaini Letu organisation has been hosting the free festival for the past eight years and has seen both local and international artists sharing a stage through various performances including cultural dances.

On his part, Nzengu Mpauni – also known as Menes la Plume said despite numerous challenges, hosting the eighteenth edition of the festival has been a success.

He stressed: “Eight years of adventure, for the first time, a refugee-led cultural projects could survive for eight years, despite all the financial challenges, we have soldiered on and we are really very proud and happy.

“Tumaini Festival belongs to the community and they own it, so this is the best thing that has ever happened to the Camp where both young and old people from more than ten nationalities working together to make something happen.”

Mitengeli Choir through its leader Alexander Chidzuipa Maluwa said the choir is thrilled with the experience it has gained having performed at the festival.

“Tumaini Festival it’s a big thing and to be part of it it’s a very wonderful experience, to me as an individual and to my team as well at large, we experienced a very wonderful moment here at Tumaini Festival,” said jovial Maluwa.

Formerly trading as Dzaleka Cultural Association, ‘Tumaini Letu’ is a Swahili phrase that means ‘Our Hope’.