Ngoni festival seeks K180m

A K180 million fundraising campaign has been launched to secure the future of this year’s uMhlangano wa Maseko Ngoni.

The funds will finance the annual cultural gathering, which the Maseko Ngoni Heritage Trust says is vital for preserving the community’s traditions and passing them on to younger generations..

The week-long gathering will run from August 31 to September 5, 2026, culminating in a grand finale at the Gomani Chikuse Memorial Grounds in Nkolimbo Village under Inkosi Kwataine in Ntcheu District.

General Secretary of the Maseko Ngoni Heritage Trust, Kandie Padambo, said the K180 million target will be raised through contributions from Maseko Ngoni communities, corporate organisations and various fundraising activities.

“The budget of this year’s function has been pegged at K180 million, with funding sourced from Maseko Ngonis, corporate organisations and organising fundraising activities such as golf tournaments and dinner and dance,” Padambo said.

Padambo: the event is more than cultural celebration

Padambo said the annual gathering is more than a cultural celebration, as it provides an opportunity to strengthen unity among Maseko Ngoni communities while ensuring that children and young people remain connected to their culture and customs.

The 2026 uMhlangano is expected to bring together Maseko Ngoni communities from across Malawi, including Zwangendaba brothers and sisters from Mzimba and Mchinji, as well as participants from Chipata in Zambia.

Maseko Ngoni from Mozambique, under King Zintambira Maseko, who is directly related to the Maseko Ngoni Royal Family of Malawi, are also expected to attend and fully participate in the celebrations.

Padambo said invitations have also been extended to several Ngoni royal houses and royal representatives from South Africa, eSwatini and Lesotho, while traditional leaders and members of other ethnic groups in Malawi are expected to grace the occasion.

Government dignitaries, prominent Malawians and members of the diplomatic corps are also expected to attend the event, which will be held under the theme “Ubunye Bunamandla”, meaning “Unity is Strength.”

According to the Heritage Trust, the ceremony has its roots in the long history of Ngoni gatherings, including the First Fruits ceremony, which was traditionally held to thank God for good harvests.

The modern uMhlangano waMaseko Ngoni was revived and formalised in 2013, a year after iNgwenyama Gomani V ascended to the throne, with the aim of strengthening cohesion within the Kingdom, exposing young Maseko Ngoni to their heritage and strengthening ties with other Ngoni communities.

The gathering also seeks to promote interaction with other ethnic groups and contribute to a Malawi that values diversity, mutual respect, good neighbourliness and unity.