Sunbird Sand Music Festival gains momentum: Paul Banda makes appearance

There wouldn’t be any better moment to enjoy the summer scotching sun in the cooling breeze of the Lake Malawi than partaking in the Sunbird Sand Music Festival with promising best menu of music performances led by the veteran artist, Paul Banda.

Casting its boundaries wide and beyond, the beach-based festival set for its second year at Nkopola Lodge in Mangochi from October 4th to 6th, has attracted a pool of both local and international artists with Zimbabwe, Mozambique, South Africa and Zambia geared to mesmerize thousands of music fanatics and fun seekers with more exciting features on offer.

From Mozambique, the self-styled Masuku will team up with two Zimbabwean artists, Nikk and songstress Pamhidzai Tracy Mbirimi popularly known as Pah Chihera as well as Zambia’s celebrated Orga Family, JK and B1. And from South Africa, the festival will embrace the presence of Big Naz and Dj Flava.

Nikk plays urban music and Pah Chihera performs Afro-Jazz and traditional music. Pah Chihera is expected to perform hits from her debut album “Runonzi Rudo” which brought her into the limelight.

Paul Banda amongst the local headline act
Paul Banda amongst the local headline act

Locally, the festival boasts of roping in services of the veteran musician, Paul Banda-yet to have first festival experience-Afro pop singer, Maskal, Third Eye, Gwamba Piksy, Black Missionaries, Armstrong, Lulu, Lucius Banda and Zembani Band, Sally Nyundo and Joe Gwaladi.

In an interview, the festival’s coordinator, Lucius Banda revealed to Nyasa Times that, they have also secured services of gospel artists in the likes of Thoko Katimba, Mlaka Maliro, Allan Chirwa and Great Angels Choirs and others.

“It’s a festival that embraces music of all forms. And it would not be worth claiming that we are promoting local music when we deny the platform to other genre of music such as acoustic and gospel. Sand Music is all about promoting art through music within and beyond,” said Banda.

He said the festival would give opportunity to up and coming artists, especially the acoustic musicians to display their talent.

Banda said the Sand Festival, hugely associated with music, aims at promoting the country’s tourism, hence the choice of holding it Mangochi.

“As artists we have responsibility to contribute to our economy and build up our tourism sector, and it is through initiatives like the San festival that can help to build up that desire in Malawians to explore some of our beautiful sceneries as well as tract tourists”.

Banda further disclosed that this year’s event would be a special one as lessons drawn from last year’s show have helped to iron out some of the shortfalls, citing this year artists would be accorded enough stage time.

“This year we promise of nothing but pure fun with each artist given more stage time to ensure that the patrons enjoy their performances to the fullest. It will be more coordinated and improved from last year,” added Banda.

With this year’s festival expected to spend over K30 million, patrons will not expect nothing less than more fun with various beach sporting activities such as soccer, pool and chess to spice up the event.

Tickets for the show will be sold online and will also be available in all the Sunbird Hotels at the price of K8,000 for three days and K3,500 for a single.

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