TUMAINI FESTIVAL

Tumaini Festival is a three-day, free annual global celebration held in Dzaleka Refugee Camp, showcasing arts and cultural performances by refugee, Malawian, and international artists. As the star project of Tumaini Letu, this festival is the first and only one of its kind within a refugee camp. It highlights diverse art forms including music, theatre, poetry, and dance, spread across five performance areas. The festival also features a display space for visual artists, a special evening dedicated to film screenings, and a children’s playground. Additionally, it creates platforms for learning and knowledge exchange.

The Tumaini Festival exists to promote the cultural, social, and economic inclusion of refugees in  Malawi through arts and culture, welcoming visitors from around the world to the camp to change narratives and break down prejudices about refugees by transforming Dzaleka Refugee Camp into a tourist destination, fostering cultural exchange, and boosting economic empowerment. Tumaini Festival amplifies refugee voices, sparks conversations, and creates economic opportunities by providing a platform for refugees to sell goods and services, improving their standard of living.

The Tumaini Festival drives volunteerism, employment, income generation, cultural exchange, and media presence. It has supported 2,335 entrepreneurs, created 1,500 jobs for refugees, and boosted the Dzaleka Refugee Camp economy. the festival has amplified refugee voices, reaching 61 million people through media coverage and raising awareness of refugee rights. Since 2014, 179,000 patrons have attended, with  an estimated52,000 people attending each year. The festival also improves refugees’ psychosocial well-being by promoting self-expression, connection, and a positive outlook on life, benefiting the entire refugee community.