As the Ngoni of Mzimba inch closer to celebrating the kingdom’s greatest celebration, Umthetho.
To ensure all is going as planned, and to appreciate progress, among other notable tasks, His Majesty Inkosi ya Makhosi Mmbelwa V, led a team to Hola, the historical Ngoni site in Mzimba district, where he inspected Royal Huts construction. These belong to each of the Mzimba Ngoni kingdom’s Inkosi’s, including Chindi, Mabulabo, and Mpherembe, among others.
The Mzimba Heritage Association (MZiHA) leadership and other senior kingdom officials joined him.
Earlier, as the pinnacle of the four days long event draws closer slated for 12th August, precast by events starting on 9th august, the MZiHA executive committee, was led by chairperson Mzondi Moyo to inspect preparatory activities.
In a full consultative fashion, village heads around Hora Mountain expressed their sentiments in support of planned activities.
Progressive preparations have included paying of homage at the late Inkosi Ya Makhosi M’mbelwa 1 monumental tombstone at Mzalangwe.
The annual cultural festival set on a theme to compound and appreciate the importance of the environment, which the Mzimba Ngoni by tradition and culture always work to preserve and protect, shall include a youth seminar at Hora Heritage Centre, a seminar for AmaKhosi at Mame Lodge, a royal gathering up Hora mountain for iNgoma dances, open campfire brai and reverence of visiting Ngoni leaders from other countries such as South African Zulus, delegation from Zambia’s Mpezeni, Tanzania’s Shongani, Zimbabwe’s Ndebele, and Eswazini’s Swazi, among others.
Locally, Inkosi Gomani of Ntcheu and other cultural and tribal leaders are expected at the event.
Apolitical, the festival also attracts government and other structural leaders from across the country.
To be showcased is a variety of Ngoni identifying traditions such as Ngoni dance by the Impi and Omama, dishes and dressing, and many other products and services.
Destined as a tourism destiny, Mziha is steadily moving to put Umthetho as the best tradition, culture, modernity and environment can meet and be embraced for generations to come.
The Mzimba Ngoni are descendants of Zwangendaba warriors who settled in northern Malawi.
Zwangendaba sons resettled to what is now the Mzimba District and seven of his descendants still rule.
By M’theto Lungu – MZiHA Media
