MALAWI: Maseko Ngoni Cultural Festival Returns This September After One-Year Break

By Smile Hamilton, Malawi

The annual Maseko Ngoni cultural gathering, known as Nhlangano wa a Maseko Ngoni, is scheduled to take place this September 2025.

This was revealed by the Secretary General of the Maseko Ngoni Heritage Trust, Impi Kandi Padambo Ndau, during a press briefing held on Saturday, in Blantyre.

According to Ndau, the festival did not take place last year following a directive from Inkosi ya Makosi Gomani V, the supreme leader of the Maseko Ngoni people in Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, and South Africa.

The event was cancelled in honour of the late Impi Dr. Saulos Klaus Chilima, who was also Malawi’s Vice President, and renowned musician Lucius Banda—both members of the Maseko Ngoni clan.

Ndau added that this year’s celebration is expected to be the biggest ever, with performances from popular Maseko Ngoni artists including Patience Namadingo, Lawi, Lulu, Zeze Kingston, among others.

Speaking at the same event, the festival’s Finance Committee Treasurer, Mirriam Mzanda Namilanzi, disclosed that the total budget for this year’s ceremony is estimated at around K150 million.

To support the event, the organizing committee is already selling traditional fabric (chitenje) at K15,000 per piece. Additionally, two fundraising golf tournaments have been planned—one on July 4th in Blantyre and another on July 26th in Lilongwe. They are also reaching out to corporate sponsors, targeting at least K30 million in sponsorship support.

The Maseko Ngoni have been hosting Nhlangano annually since 2013 to preserve and promote their cultural heritage and traditions.