By our Reporter
After a successful debut last year, organizers of Dzaleka Cultural Fashion Festival have announced to fuel up the gala’s legacy by scheduling another fashion fiesta later this year, The Groupie can reveal.
With an aim of promoting culture and the fashion industry in Malawi, the event brings together the way of life, artistic works among others from different countries.
Spearhead by Dzaleka Youth Congress, a local organization that operates within the Dzaleka Refugee camp in Dowa, the event also advocates against malpractice that negatively affects the youths countrywide.
Confirming the development, Director and co-founder of Dzaleka Youth Congress, Alain Bitijula said the event will exhibit the cultural and fashion trends from different cultural groupings in Africa.
“It’s about exhibiting the culture that for many years have been ignored due to advancement in technology which in turn result many people forget their culture. It’s also about bringing together people from different backgrounds to share and celebrate culture in diversity, culture as way of living and as ones pride,” Said Bitijula.
However Bitijula has noted with distress the dilution in dissolution of culture that according to him it is perpetuating youths to indulge in different malpractice.
“Youths have talent but some youths forget about their own cultures hence losing their identity. Besides, there are many cultures that are hidden and many young people do not know them. This makes them to be lost in culture as they copy what others do in the present time and as the result, they end up by engaging in the risky behaviors”
He added: “In this event, first of all we expect high participation of different people from all the cultures in Malawi and in the world. Other expectation is that all the people will think back and start living with the sense of culture in their mind thought the sharing of cultures.
Most importantly, we expect to have support being financial or moral from people from Malawi and all over the world. We ask well wishers, institutions, organizations to join their hands and support this event to promote culture.”
Meanwhile the organizers are training models, singers, and dancers to showcase on the soon to be announced date of the festival.
Dzaleka Youth Congress promotes peaceful existence between the residents of the camp and outside world.
In the maiden event last year, the fashion festival brought together the award winning fashion designer, Roy View Banda and urban artist Bucci to spice up the event. The organisers are yet to announce the headliners for the event.
