Tumaini Festival

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MusicDzaleka Refugee Camp
DatesDates TBA · Usually OctoberCheck locally before booking
Duration3 daysListed event span
Crowd-Public scale varies
Best forLive music, late nightsFew festivals anywhere carry a founding
LanguageLocal language; English access variesCurrency: MWK
CategoryMusicFestival type
The story

Tumaini Festival in Dzaleka Refugee Camp

The Tumaini Festival, Swahili for hope, is a free arts and culture festival founded in 2014 by Tresor Nzengu Mpauni, known by his stage name Menes La Plume, a refugee from Lubumbashi in the Democratic Republic of Congo living at Dzaleka Refugee Camp. Organized by the Dzaleka Cultural Association and supported by UNHCR and Plan Malawi, the festival has grown to draw an estimated fifty thousand attendees and more than one hundred artists by 2023.

The Tumaini Festival began in 2014 as the vision of one man living within the community it now celebrates: Tresor Nzengu Mpauni, who performs under the stage name Menes La Plume, arrived at Dzaleka Refugee Camp as a refugee from Lubumbashi in the Democratic Republic of Congo and founded the festival, whose name, Tumaini, means hope in Swahili, as a deliberate act of cultural creation from within displacement rather than despite it.
Your trip starts here
What is special

The part that makes it specific.

01

The place changes

Few festivals anywhere carry a founding story as directly tied to displacement and resilience as this one: Menes La Plume conceived Tumaini while living as a refugee within Dzaleka, a camp built in 1994 on the site of a former political prisoner farm, now home to more than fifty thousand refugees, most from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi, Rwanda, and Somalia, who lack Malawian citizenship and access to most public services

02

The mystery stays covered

The festival's mission of building intercultural harmony between refugees and the surrounding Malawian community has made it the largest source of external visibility the camp receives, and its founder has since been recognized internationally as an Ashoka Fellow

Traditions & symbols

The language of the festival.

What moves first

Living ritual

The festival was built specifically to foster intercultural harmony between refugee communities at Dzaleka and surrounding Malawian society

Water and renewal

Living ritual

using music

The sacred route

Living ritual

and traditional food as a shared cultural language across a camp population drawn from multiple Central and East African nations

Before you go

Essential information

When to go

Dates TBA · Usually October

Getting around

Stay close enough to the part of Dzaleka Refugee Camp you will actually use, especially if the event runs late.

What to wear

Casual, comfortable clothing suited to an outdoor community festival is appropriate, along with sun protection and footwear suited to walking across the camp grounds.

Safety

Tumaini Festival is easier with a small bag, charged phone and group plan that survives poor signal.

Where to stay

For busy dates, stay near reliable routes so the return after Tumaini Festival does not become the hardest part.

Tickets/cost

Ticketing varies by venue and stage. Confirm official passes before booking travel.

Language/currency

MWK

Family friendly

unknown

Interactive map13.66 S, 33.87 EOpen in Google Maps

Dzaleka Refugee Camp, Dowa, Malawi

Nearest airportLLW — Kamuzu
TransportStay close enough to the part of Dzaleka Refugee Camp you will actually use, especially if the event runs late.
Stay areaFor busy dates, stay near reliable routes so the return after Tumaini Festival does not become the hardest part.

Your Trip Starts Here

External travel services to turn the plan into a trip — each opens in a new tab.

How to get thereRoutes, times and prices to Dzaleka Refugee Camp via local transport.Search routesFind a place to stayStays near Dzaleka Refugee Camp, close enough for the event-day route.Browse staysFind flightsCompare fares into the nearest practical airport for October.Compare faresFestival gearCasual, comfortable clothing suited to an outdoor community festival is appropriate, along with sun protection and footwear suited to walking across the camp grounds.Shop the kitCheck visa requirementsSee whether you need a visa for Malawi and apply online.Check entry rulesTravel insuranceCover for trip hiccups, gear and health on the road.Get covered

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FAQ

Quick answers.

When is Tumaini Festival?

Tumaini Festival is listed for Past edition: 30 October–1 November 2025. Always re-check the official or local source close to travel.

Where does Tumaini Festival take place?

The festival is listed in Dzaleka Refugee Camp, Malawi. The map coordinate is a planning reference, not a guarantee of a ticket gate or exact venue.

How long should I plan for?

3 days is the listed festival span. Add time for arrival, local transport, queues, and any route changes during the event.

Is a source linked?

Official source linked. Eventisimus separates source confidence from travel suggestions, so check final details before booking.

Where exactly is it?

Dzaleka Refugee Camp, Dowa, Malawi

Is it family friendly?

unknown

Sources and editorial review

About this guide

This guide is independently written by Eventisimus using publicly available information, official event and organiser sources where available, local tourism references, and additional editorial research. Eventisimus is not the official organiser of this festival and is not affiliated with it unless explicitly stated.

Festival dates, schedules, ticket conditions, access rules, and local arrangements can change. We aim to present useful and accurate information, but travelers should confirm important details with the official event source before booking transport, accommodation, or tickets.

Found something inaccurate or outdated? Email hello@eventisimus.com with the festival page link and the correction.

Official URLtumaini-festival.dzaleka.com
Organizer accessAre you the organizer? Claim this listing →
SourceSource link available
Listed datesDates TBA · Usually October
Source statusOfficial source linked
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