Ngoni Festival (Ngoma)

Yesterday I attended Ngoma in Bawi. It’s a traditional Ngoni Festival held once every two years and features traditional Ngoni dances from Ntcheu, Dedza, Mzimba and Mozambique. The festival is organised by the Katola family.

The guest of honour was Inkosi ya Makosi Gomani IV, Paramount Chief of Ntcheu Maseko Ngoni. Also present were Traditional Authority Kwataine, Traditional Authority Makwangwala and Parliament First Deputy Speaker Jones Chingola. Peoples Progressive Movement president Mark Katsonga Phiri and Reserve Bank of Malawi deputy governor Mary Nkosi were also present.

A few pictures from the Ngoni festival (Ngoma) below.

Inkosi ya Makosi Gomani IV flanked by Inkosi Kwataine and Inkosi Makwangwala

Inkosi ya Makosi Gomani dancing

Impi Wilfred Katola Nyoni (in elaborate headgear) at the Ngoma or Ngoni Festival

Inkosi ya Makosi Gomani’s wife (in red headgear)

Charles Govati, a member of the Remaseko Gomani Cultural Trust

Inkosi Kwataine

Impi Katola’s wife, naKhumalo

Impi Katola also celebrated his 75th birthday

My mother and I at the Ngoni festival

Two days after the Ngoma, Inkosi ya Makosi Gomani IV passed away.

Retired Colonel Alex Kanjedza Gomani became the Ngoni paramount chief in mid-2008 replacing his father the late Inkosi ya Makosi Gomani III who died in 2006.

Alex Kanjedza was born in 1961. He attended Mzamazi primary school in Ntcheu district before going to Mtendere Secondary School in Dedza. He joined the Malawi Defence Force in 1982 and retired in early 2008. He was installed Inkosi ya Makosi Gomani IV by then President Bingu wa Mutharika.

Bayete Inkosi! Rest in peace!