Likoma Festival ends on high note
One thing that came out clear from the Likoma Festival held over the weekend is that the arts event is not all about music performances as the ship cruise proved a notable highlight of the festival.
The disco on the upper deck of the MV Ilala was irresistible to patrons on Sunday night enroute to Monkey Bay.
This was meant to wrap up the three-day event that also had performances by The Wailing Brothers, Moses Makawa, Active X Band and Islanders Band on Saturday and traditional dances by Likoma-based London Boma and Zomba Boma on Sunday afternoon.
On Sunday evening, the ship started off from the stunning island to its base in Monkey Bay where it was expected to arrive yesterday evening.
Immediately after departure, the second leg of the party on the deck began. This time, unlike during the first leg of the cruise to the island district, the merrymaking was highly patronised because Lake Malawi was as calm as a swimming pool.
This brought comfort among patrons as the ship navigated the fresh waters of the lake with ease.
Other patrons preferred to stay around the ship’s pub and enjoy drinks while others dedicated their focus on the spectacular beauty of Lake Malawi illuminated by the moon and stars in the sky.
A few others wished to have live music performances to add flavour to the experience.
But the general mood, especially when darkness descended on the ship, was ecstatic and highly contagious with music booming from the speakers mounted on the vessel.
Disc jockeys (DJs) Rubie and Flame were at their best, playing various hits to the excitement of fans. Even the atmosphere or a mere thought of partying in the middle of the lake thrilled revellers.
They danced as if the world would end the next day. And in some instances, when overjoyed with a particular song, they made rounds on the ship in a queue while holding each other’s shoulders—something they will live to remember forever.
But all good things have to come to an end, so goes the saying. And it was the end for patrons who preferred to leave the ship for home at Nkhata Bay at around 10pm.
That, however, did not stop the fun. It continued up to the early hours of Monday. The ship arrived at Nkhotokota at around 7am on Monday and the music performances continued up to Monkey Bay.
One thing rings true to this day: Those who made a date with Likoma Festival never regretted.
Chief tourism officer in the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Tourism, Noah Nansongole, agreed that the event was full of fun.
He said: “The ship cruise is unique. It adds flavour to the whole experience of a festival. People start experiencing the fun enroute to the festival. So, it is like a festival within a festival. And being on the Ilala itself is an unforgettable experience which fuses one’s enjoyment and satisfaction.” n
