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10th SandFest rolls out

The beaches of Lake Malawi  in Salima will once again host one of the biggest musical events in the country, The Sand Music Festival from today.

All roads lead to Sunbird Livingstonia Beach where, once again, a mind blowing set of musicians are scheduled to perform at the 10th anniversary of Sand Music Festival.

This is Diamond Platnumz’ second appearance at SandFest

This year’s festival is historical as it docks at the same venue where five years ago, a record 7 000 merrymakers watched the performance of award-winning Jamaican dancehall artist Busy Signal.

The festival’s founder Lucius Banda said every SandFest is a moment not to mess up.

“It is our mission to beat our previous effort in a bigger and better manner. We are certain this year’s festival will continue from where we left off the last time,” he said.

In the past decade, the festival has proved to be a pilgrimage of live music while evolving into a beacon of art.

Fans from all corners of the country and at times beyond the borders, flock to the venue for the big names and end up discovering a bunch of new acts and artists while also partying like animals.

Boasting of both local and international imprint, this year’s showcase is set to re-define the pace of the Malawian entertainment industry.

Tanzania’s music star Diamond Platnumz and South Africa’s Master KG are the international headliners. They will both perform on Saturday night.

They will be joined by Raphael Loopro, a German artist and  top local musicians such as Black Missionaries Band, Anthony Makondetsa and Patience Namadingo.

It is historical that Diamond Platnumz returns to the venue he performed in Malawi for the first time in 2016.

While Covid-19 has subdued the mood of Malawi’s richness, diversity and music heritage is all set. But it will follow all measures undertaken in order to minimise the spread of the bug.

A statement from Sunbird Tourism says there will be vigorously enforcement of Covid-19 prevention  guidelines for the duration of the festival.

“The resort will carry out mandatory temperature screening before allowing entry. Anyone with temperature above 37.5 degrees Celsius will be directed to a nearby hospital for further assistance,” reads the statement in part.

It further says wearing of masks is mandatory, at all times.

“The resort and organisers security will inspect that all guests seeking entry have masks and are indeed putting them on. Every guest on entry will be required to have on them portable hand sanitisers,” reads part of the statement.

Meanwhile, fun seekers at this year’s Sand Music Festival are in for a treat of speedy Internet as TNM will launch TNM Express Wi-Fi for fast Internet services.

TNM head of communications Louis Chipofya said they will ride on the Sand Music Festival to launch the TNM Express Wi-Fi to give people a feel of the product.

“This is fast internet with speeds for up to 20Mbps on Express Wi-Fi, and have a 4G experience on any device, including a 3G device,” he said.

He also explained that it is a ‘once-off log-in’ saying once a customer logs into TNM Express Wi-Fi for the first time, there is no extra log-in required again.

“Unlike most Wi-Fi platforms which require vouchers to be printed and then loaded after log-in, the Express Wi-Fi platform is able to sale electronic vouchers directly to customers, and these vouchers can be used on any mobile phone, tablet and computer once customers receive them. Vouchers are loaded directly to the customers’ phone number,” explained Chipofya.

In a separate interview, TNM chief executive officer Michiel Buitelaar said in a quest to increase high speed Internet availability at low cost, TNM Plc has partnered the world’s technology giant Facebook to roll out public access Wi-Fi hotspots in the country.

“Express Wi-Fi gives more internet options and a better browsing experience for users as any mobile phone user within Wi-Fi coverage of the hotspot is able to connect by buying the special data packs.

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