Our Correspondent - Iringa
Advocate Sosten Mbendule, a key development stakeholder in Iringa Region, has praised Chifu Adam Sapi Mkwawa II for uniting the Wahehe community through the first-ever Wahehe Cultural Festival held in Kalenga village.
The four-day event, which began on June 16 and concluded today, aimed to promote and preserve the cultural identity of the Wahehe people while addressing concerns around declining moral values, particularly in dress and personal conduct.
“This festival is a timely initiative that reinforces our roots and educates the community on the importance of human dignity,” Mbendule said during the closing ceremony.
He noted that beyond cultural revival, the festival has also stimulated local economic activities, including agriculture, tourism, mobile finance, and insurance services.
Mbendule added that the event helped bridge generational gaps by bringing together youth, women, and elders to protect and pass on Wahehe traditions.
The celebrations featured traditional rituals along the historic Mkwawa River and visits to key heritage sites, reinforcing Kalenga’s status as a centre of cultural heritage.
Organisers hope the festival will become an annual event that enhances cultural tourism and strengthens national identity through the Wahehe legacy.