Nasfest finals on Saturday

The battle for supremacy in the ongoing National Schools Drama Festival (Nasfest) competition gets to the climax this Saturday at the Likuni Boys Secondary School in Lilongwe.

Ten secondary schools from across the country will battle it out in the finals to be graced by Tourism Minister Moses Kunkuyu.

The Southern Region is represented by Chichiri Secondary, Naizi CDSS and Army Secondary School while the Central Region has Livimbo CDSS, Matindi Girls, Robert Blake and Likuni Boys and the Northern Region banks its hopes on Phwezi Boys, Njerenjere Private and Royal Private secondary schools.

In an interview, James Kitchen executive director of Light of Youth Creative Organisation (Lyco), which runs the competition, said all is set for the finals.

“We were waiting for the North to identify their finalists which they did last weekend. Now the eyes are on who will carry the day in the national finals which promises to be thrilling considering the competition exposed in each region. All schools have said they are ready for the finals,” said Kitchen.

This year’s competition has been sponsored by visual artist Elson Kambalu through his Art House Africa.

National Theatre Association of Malawi (Ntam) vice president Joyce Mhango-Chavula will award the best actress while Peer Gynt literary award winner Shadreck Chikoti will award the best script writer and the best promising actress will be awarded by Susan Kamkosi-Banda.

Kitchen described the individual awards as motivating and revealed that their budget was too small to recognise the individuals.

“We had a small budget which has also affected our usual awards plan, but I am happy that Kambalu and others came forward to bail us out and there are attractive packages awaiting the best performers,” he said.

According to Kitchen, Lyco will recognise 13 successful artists in theatre in the country and will be decorated with medals and certificates co-signed by Lyco and government.