On Cultural Dances

Dances are the core of culture
by Hastings Maloya

A day to remember - yes, a day that will go into the history books as a turning point when local dances that were almost dead resurfaced! This was through the Mount Mulanje traditional dance competition that took place on Friday the 27th March, at the Mulanje Community Centre Ground. Being the first time such an event had ever taken place, it was sufficiently interesting and likely to be remembered.

It was a rare occasion that brought together people from all walks of life, regardless of political or religious affiliations and appreciated culture. A day filled with sounds of traditionally-made drums and lovely hand clapping with participating groups in costumes and attire befitting the dances in their originality.

The competition, which was strictly for adults, those aged from 25 and above, was organised by the Mulanje Mountain Conservation Trust through its environmental education and awareness programme as a way of raising awareness on natural resource and environmental management. A total of 20 dancing groups from all over Mulanje district participated in the competition with dances ranging from Soopa, Gololombe, Jiri, Likwata, Visekhere, Chomanga, Dodo, Mganda, Manganje, Masalimo to Namunasini.

Through several awareness and educational activities, MMCT would like to encourage greater participation by the local communities in managing the Mulanje Mountain forest reserve and facilitate sustainable means of increasing benefits that people derive from it. And this competition just perfectly fitted in.

“Apart from raising awareness of the importance of Mulanje Mountain Forest Reserve, this competition has assisted in acknowledging and improving the rich diversity of culture in Mulanje and also the development of tourism in the district,” said the District Commissioner for Mulanje Rev. Mosses Chimphepo. Rev. Chimphepo said he was excited that such an event brought people together to share joy and laughter, which he said was good for development.

No wonder the event attracted sponsorship from Malawi Savings Bank (MSB) that provided prizes to the winning groups. The Mulanje Mountain Conservation Trust provided MK5, 000 to each of the 20 participating groups while the bank provided actual prizes to winning groups through the opening of bank accounts. The bank gave prizes to a total of MK100, 000 to five winning groups.

After scrutinising the performances a group of six judges came with a verdict that saw Manyamba Troupe with their Soopa dance scooping the first position and walked away with a K30, 000 bank account seconded by Gawani Traditional Dance with their Manganje dance and got K25, 000. On position three was Nancocho Club with Namunasini dance and were proud recipients of K20, 000 while Maliyera group with Dodo dance was on position four and got K15, 000; and Msuka dancers got K10, 000 for being on position five.

And in his remarks, MSB Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Joseph Mwanamvekha, said the Bank is proud to be associated with the promotion of culture and traditional values of the people of Malawi. He thanked the Trust for organising the event and said the Bank is excited to support the groups to sustain themselves economically hence the offer to open accounts for them.

“Our bank, which has branches in all the districts of Malawi is not discriminatory. We wanted everyone to have the power of investment and groups like these are the owners of the bank. It is my hope that after opening the bank accounts, your groups will be sustained”, said Mr. Mwanamvekha.

Mr. Mwanamvekha, who is also the National Chairperson for Mulhako wa Alhomwe, a Lhomwe cultural heritage group, emphasised on the importance of traditional dances in preservation of culture. At this point he said this competition can be looked at a starting point. He observed that over the years, Malawian were starting to believe that entertainment meant bringing into the country a foreign band when we have rich and diversity of local entertainment.

People that attended the ceremony included school children, government officials, international guests, tourists, representatives of the NGO community, the civil society and the general public.

The participating groups were asked to compose songs that raise awareness on natural resource and environmental management – with focus on the Mulanje Mountain Forest Reserve. A group of six judges was tasked to come up with winners putting in consideration consistence, composition of songs, originality of the dance, the message and the general entertainment. All songs were expected to talk of the importance of conservation.

And in his remarks, the guest of honour, Paramount Chief Mkhumba thanked both MMCT and MSB for recognising the local talent and facilitating the bringing out of dances that were about to be forgotten.

“Jiri is my favourite dance. It was almost gone but today we have revived it,” said the excited Chief Mkhumba while asking the organisers to consider making this an annual event. “We are reminded of our days. This is what our children need to be taught and encouraged to participate,” said the chief. He called on teachers and education officials to encourage children to organise and dance traditional dances than adopting foreign dances like kwasakwasa.

And the journey has just started….. the Trust wants this to be an annual event and the Bank wants it too!