UNESCO-backed Mbalambi festival stirs village to life

The choir made up of elderly women of Mbalambi in pale blue "Jeremane" dresses, was the last to sing towards the grand finale. The matriarchs of Mbalambi were making a circle as they danced to a tune they yodeled, when all of a sudden a whirlwind started shaking the main white tent and gathering dust as it swirled towards the women.

That elicited long ululations from women inside the tents and roars of approval from the men and the choir sang even louder and danced much more energetically.