When you visit Malawi, one of the most fascinating experiences you can have is Malawi’s culture and traditions through cultural dances, rituals, arts and crafts, traditional food and interacting with local communities.  Its rich and diverse cultural heritage stems from the diversity of tribes, religion and traditions with a long history.  Malawi has about 70 tradional dances and 3 of these Vimbuza, Gule Wamkulu, Mwinoghe and Tchopa have been proclaimed by UNESCO as Masterpieces of Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity. Other popular traditional dances include Mganda, Beni, Malipenga, Ingoma, chilimika, manganje, chisamba, chimtali and Likhuba.

Gule Wamkulu dance. The dance is performed among the Chewa Tribe at the request of the village headman. The Nyau dancers wear constumes and masks representing a great variety of characters such as wild animals.

Malipenga dance. A dance among the Tonga tribe from Nkhatabay .

Cultural festivals have become popular platforms of showcasing unique Malawi culture. Some of the festivals include Umthetho among the Ngoni in Mzimba, Gonapamuhanya among the Tumbuka, Umhlangano Wa Maseko among the Ngoni of Ntcheu, Muhlakho wa Alhomwe among the Lomwe. Umthetho Cultural Festival in Hora. The festival is held annually among the Ngoni in Mzimba district to promote conventional governance, heritage and traditions.

A Group of girls dancing during the Mulhakho Wa Alhomwe Festival