National School Youths Arts Festival is back
The National School Youth Arts Festival (Nasfest) is back with a bang.
The festival, which seeks to showcase talents and arts, will this year be headlined by Lulu, Sangie and Patience Namadingo.
The event starts on Friday at Kamuzu Institute for Sports and ends on Saturday at Bingu International Convention Centre (Bicc) in Lilongwe, according to organisers, Light of Youth Creative Organisation (Lyco) director James Kitchen.
There will also be a youth gala awards ceremony on the same day where Lyco will recognise young artists from all disciplines. The theme of this year is Be Part of the Youth in Action to Eliminate Harmful Cultural Practices.
On Friday there will be drama performances, poetry recitals, cultural and contemporary dancing shows plus live performances from Lulu and Malinga Mafia while on Saturday at Bicc, there will be drama, poetry and music by Patience Namadingo and Sangie.
“We are grateful for the support we have received from Hivos Foundation and Malawi Digital Broadcasting Network Limited and other partners like Music Crosssroads and African Politics and Policy,” said Kitchen.
He said unlike in the past, this year Nasfest will award all nine schools who are participating in this grand festival with resource centres.
“This will include computer set, Internet access, TV decoder and assorted books. We are doing this after observing the need for ICT and Internet in schools. When we are giving out cash prizes, there is no meaningful impact for the festival.
“So we want all schools to benefit equally while empowering them at the same time,” explained Kitchen.
Meanwhile Sangie, who has been involved in youth projects before, said she was ready to be part of the event.
“I will definitely be there and will give my best. It will be fun and more fun,” she said.
Last year, Sangie was part of local artists that accompanied US gospel rapper Da. T.RU.T.H to Nkhotakota where apart from performing, she also gave a motivational talk to youths there.
Namadingo and Lulu’s manager Levi Msakambewa confirmed that the two artists will perform during the two-day event. n
