Tumani Letu has announced that its 7th edition of the Tumaini Festival is scheduled to take place from 4th to 7th November, 2021at Dzaleka Refugee Camp in Dowa.
Tumaini Festival is a 3 day ecstatic celebration of the arts and culture that draws together people across every divide to enjoy live performances by artists from the camp sharing the stage with both local and international artists.
The Festival features an eclectic program of art forms from traditional dances, live music, theatre, poetry, fashion shows, art exhibitions, film screenings and a children’s playground.
By popular demand, Tumaini Letu Founder and Director Trésor Nzengu Mpauni has revealed that the 2021 edition will run for a period of 4 days from the usual 3 days.
“In an effort to provide a platform for various artforms,Tumaini Festival has increased the number of stages to six stages namely the Main Stage, the Youth Stage, Theatre Corner, Poetry Corner, Art Exhibition Space and the Cultural Ground,” he said.
Tumaini Festival remains a free of charge event to break the social and economic restrictions that prohibit average patrons from different cultures attending the festivities and celebrate together in peace and harmony in Dzaleka Refugee Camp.
“The festival is a family event with child friendly performances which makes the festival a great opportunity for families to have good,outdoor fun.
“The festival continues toem power and support refugee-owned small businesses by providing a market space to sell their merchandise and also offer an opportunity to the patrons to purchase arts & crafts and artisanal goods from refugees,” Mpauni added.
In 2020, Tumaini Festival was cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic instead, Tumaini Letu engaged in supporting the population at Dzaleka in other projects like sensitizing the Dzaleka communityon COVID-19 preventive measures through music projects that involved artists from the Camp.
Tumaini Letu also supported the community by developing radio programs to educate children on intangible cultural heritage through folktales and also supported positive well-being among adults.
This year, the festival will also celebrate the creative ways in which artists and the community at Dzaleka have shown resilience with in the challenging context of COVID-19.
“Tumaini Letu will make sure that all COVID-19 measures are strictly adhered to at the Festival,” Mpauni assured.
Artists to perform at this year’s Festival will be announced in due course.
