YNS (Yaran North Side)

Lilongwe Girls wins 2025 Nasfest

The play features Ndatopa, a woman desperate for a child who defies warnings from the village elders and enters the ‘forbidden forest’. On her journey, she faces mad wanderers, vengeful spirits and vanishing roads. But just as she begins to lose hope, an old woman reveals a secret path that leads her to a sacred ‘singing door’ where she finds an infant wrapped in golden leaves. The story, brought to life through folksongs and storytelling, highlights the power of perseverance, faith and sticking to one’s roots and culture. In an interview on Saturday, Lilongwe Girls patron Desiree Namachotsa expressed excitement with the victory. She said the girls delivered an outstanding performance despite the short time for preparation. “The girls are happy because they put everything into the performance. They deserved to win,” she said.