In News:

• The Tumaini Festival is held annually in the Dzaleka Refugee Camp in Malawi, one of the world’s few music festivals hosted within a refugee camp. It brings together refugees and locals for cultural exchange, showcasing music, art, and crafts.
  • Dates: The festival runs from Thursday to Saturday each year, typically in November.
  • Founded: In 2014 by Congolese poet Menes La Plume.

Festival Highlights:

• The festival features performances from a diverse range of artists, including refugees and local Malawians, as well as artists from South Africa, Zimbabwe, and beyond.
• In 2024, performances included Jetu, a 72-year-old singer, and Vankson Boy V, a Congolese refugee, alongside other acts like Maveriq Mavo from South Africa.
• The festival aims to:
  • Celebrate cultural exchange and community solidarity between refugees and locals.
  • Humanize the refugee experience by allowing refugees and locals to share common experiences and celebrate cultural diversity.
  • Challenge stereotypes by showing refugees as people with the same aspirations, talents, and desires as locals.

Significance of Dzaleka Refugee Camp:

• Location: Situated near Lilongwe, Malawi, Dzaleka was originally a prison before becoming a refugee camp in 1994.
• Capacity: Initially designed for 10,000 refugees, the camp now hosts over 60,000 individuals from countries like Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Rwanda, Burundi, Ethiopia, and Somalia.
• Role: Dzaleka has evolved into a hub for humanitarian aid, cultural exchange, and empowerment of its residents.