The sound of rhythmic drumming and the sight of dancers moving in unison greeted thousands of people arriving at Chonde Ground in Mulanje on Saturday, as this year’s Mulhako wa Alhomwe celebrations got underway.
At the centre of the early festivities was Gugudela, a traditional Lhomwe dance associated with abundant rainfall and successful harvests.
Performed with energy and precision, the dance provided a cultural welcome for visitors travelling from across the country to attend one of Malawi’s most prominent cultural gatherings.
Dressed in traditional Lhomwe attire, men, women and children streamed into the venue throughout the morning, adding colour and atmosphere to an event that has become an established fixture on Malawi’s cultural calendar.
The celebrations unfolded under clear skies and rising temperatures, with the October heat already evident by mid-morning.
For many attendees, however, the festival represents more than entertainment.
Since its establishment in 2007 by its founding patron, the late former president Bingu wa Mutharika, Mulhako wa Alhomwe has served as an important platform for the preservation and promotion of Lhomwe culture and identity.
Veteran participants say the event traditionally builds towards its most significant moments later in the day, when speeches from invited guests are followed by the festival’s main celebrations.
The organisation’s name reflects its broader cultural mission. In Chilomwe, the word mulhako is commonly understood to mean a door or gateway, symbolising the role the association seeks to play in connecting people with their heritage.
Beyond the annual gathering, Mulhako wa Alhomwe promotes the use of the Chilomwe language, encourages cultural education and seeks to foster pride in Lhomwe traditions among younger generations.
Its well-known motto, “Alhomwe, Alhomwe, noophiya!”, meaning “Lhomwes, Lhomwes, we are here!”, remains both a declaration of identity and a celebration of cultural continuity.
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