By Burnett Munthali
NTCHEU, Malawi — (MaraviPost) — Malawi’s Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture, Alfred Gangata, has urged citizens to use the country’s cultural diversity as a foundation for unity, calling for greater efforts to preserve traditional heritage for future generations.
Gangata made the appeal on Saturday while representing President Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika as guest of honour at the Maseko Ngoni Umhlangano in Ntcheu, an annual gathering centred on Maseko Ngoni culture, traditional leadership and community identity.
The event was attended by Vice President Dr Jane Ansah, traditional leaders, government officials and members of the Maseko Ngoni community, giving the cultural gathering a significant level of national representation.
In his address, Gangata congratulated Ngwenyama Inkosi Gomani Maseko V for convening the Umhlangano and said such gatherings play an important role in keeping cultural traditions alive while bringing communities together.
“Unity is power. When we stand together, Malawi becomes stronger,” Gangata said.
The minister urged Malawians to ensure that traditional knowledge, customs and values are not lost, particularly as younger generations encounter increasingly diverse social and cultural influences.
He said responsibility for protecting Malawi’s heritage should extend beyond traditional authorities to families and communities, which he described as important custodians of culture and history.
Gangata also presented cultural preservation as part of a broader national-unity agenda, arguing that Malawi’s different cultural identities can coexist as a source of national strength when citizens recognise their shared interests.
The minister praised Gomani V for maintaining the Umhlangano as a platform where Maseko Ngoni traditions can be publicly celebrated and transmitted to younger generations.
Vice President Ansah and Gangata were seated under the same shelter during the proceedings. Following the minister’s address, the two government leaders shook hands before the programme continued.
The gathering brought together members of the Maseko Ngoni community and invited guests in Ntcheu to celebrate their cultural heritage and traditional leadership.
Gangata’s intervention placed the preservation of indigenous culture alongside the broader question of national cohesion, with the minister urging Malawians to safeguard their distinct traditions without losing sight of their common national identity.
He concluded by congratulating Gomani V and the organisers for staging the Umhlangano and called for continued efforts to preserve Malawi’s cultural heritage while promoting unity and cooperation across communities.
