An African with abundant resources, where you simply scatter seeds and harvest fruit, and everybody is a friend and a welcome quest. An African where stories are told under the stars and songs are sung around the fire, where beer is drunk and wisdom passed on to one to next generation.
That is the African Kalonga Gawaundi founder of the Chewas, the biggest cultural grouping in Malawi, Mozambique and Zambia, who is trying to capture, preserve and unite through the Kulamba ceremony in M’kaika Zambia.
Chairperson of Chewa Heritage in Malawi George Yobe concurred with Kalonga’s vision of uniting and providing relief to Chewas from all around the world through the ceremony of Kulamba which is to take place on Saturday this year.
“Many times, it has been like trying to catch lighting in a bottle. In his quest to preserve culture Gawaundi together with other chiefs (Paramount’s; Mberwa, Kurgu, Chikulamayembe, Ngomani and Lundu young brother to him) will celebrate to enhance and preserve the tradition values of the Chewa”, he said.
During the fourth Kulamba ceremony the performances will be conducted by the students from Universities of Malawi in collaboration with other performers. The activities to be showcased include traditional dances like Ngulewankulu, Chintali, Miganda, Konchoma and some others. And Poets, Drama and Fantastic flute music.
“Culture is dynamic as for that more experience will be shared during the ceremony, issues of governance, environment and healthy since some other cultural practices are resulting more contractions of HIV/AIDS diseases which badly affects societies in as far as prevention of moral and cultural practices are concerned”, lamentedYobe.
He expressed dissatisfactions; bemoaning financial problem is a limiting factor affecting the preparation of Kulamba ceremony hence resulting to poor quality in most of cultural voice amplification and artistic works despite culture growing when clearly interpreted progressively. The fourth coming Kulamba ceremony has been funded by Airtel Malawi k2 million, Prime Insurance K500, 000 and, and individuals of goodwill and Chewa grouping managed K3million to meet a budget of K5 million.
