K38m invested in Malawi lakeshore Sand music festival
Organisers of the Sand Festival have disclosed that they have invested K38 million to hold this year’s music fest, scheduled to start this Friday at Sunbird Nkopola in the lakeshore district of Mangochi.
The four-day music gala, which will bring together local and international artists, will be taking place in the absence of the Lake of Stars which is on recess this year.
Speaking in an interview with Nyasa Timeson Tuesday, festival coordinator Lucius Banda, who is also one of the headliners at the carnival, said they invested huge sums of money because they want to give Malawians the best event this year.
“Previously Malawians were left disappointed, that’s why we are involving a lot of stakeholders this year with such an amount because we don’t want to give the people a raw deal,” Banda told Nyasa Times.
The money is expected to cover costs, among others artists’ performance fees, hiring of equipment, transport and accommodation as well as security.
Banda, who is one of the founders of the festival, is working hand-in-hand with Sunbird Tourism in organising the event this year.
Sand Festival, which started in 2010, has attracted about 40 local artists, both old-timers as well as up-and-coming, including Lucius Banda, Black Missionaries, Skeffa Chimoto, Mlaka Maliro, Maskal, Piksy and the Great Angels Choir.
International acts billed to perform at the event are South Africa’s Professor, Zambia’s General Kanene and Botswana’s Makhirikhiri, among others.
According to Banda, preparations are going on well and all the artists have signed contracts to confirm their participation.
He further disclosed that foreign artists will start arriving in the country on Wednesday, starting with Makhirikhiri who are scheduled to jet-in at 12:00pm. General Kanene will arrive on Friday while Professor of the ‘Jezebel’ fame will come on Saturday.
“We have brought in a variety of musicians because we want to build one of the best family entertainment events in Malawi, where parents and children can come together and have fun along the shores of our beautiful lake,” said Banda.
In its inaugural year, the Sand Festival, which was first held at Zitherepano in Mangochi, attracted 1,500 patrons and last year, over 2,000 people attended the music event at Sunbird Livingstonia in Salima.
The organisers are optimistic that this year the number of patrons will be higher.
Meanwhile, Sunbird has said tickets and rooms were selling like hot cakes. The four-day ticket is selling at K10,000 while one-day tickets are selling at K2,500 each.
Follow and Subscribe Nyasa TV :
