The 2026 ChiwAnja Cha A Yao Cultural Festival will support at least 75 girls from 15 primary schools in Salima to transition to secondary school.
The initiative will be a
core focus of this year’s festival, scheduled for October 10 under the theme
“Celebrating Our Heritage. Educating Our Girls. Building Our Future.”
Speaking at a press briefing
in Blantyre, Chairperson of ChiwAnja Cha A Yao, Prince Mtelera, said the
festival will use culture as a platform to promote girls’ education and address
the barriers that keep girls out of school.
He noted that traditional leaders have pledged to use
their influence to encourage parents to keep girls in school while tackling
issues such as early marriage and other harmful practices.
“As Chiwanja, we do not just
want to feast and dance, but to also support girls so they can achieve their
goals,” Mtelera said.
Senior Chief Kapeni, representing Yao traditional
leaders, emphasized that preserving culture should go hand in hand with
ensuring that girls have opportunities to learn and fulfill their potential.
“A strong culture does not
hold its children back; it gives them roots from which they can grow,” Kapeni
said.
He added that traditional leaders must actively encourage
parents to keep children in school, address early marriage, and mobilize
support for vulnerable girls.
The organizers have called
on the government, development partners, the private sector, civil society
organizations, and well-wishers to support the educational initiative.
Beyond its educational
focus, the festival will showcase Yao traditional dances, music, attire,
cuisine, and other cultural expressions while promoting cultural tourism and
local economic activity.
