One venue for Blantyre Arts Festival
Blantyre Arts Festival (BAF) has shattered its history—this time pooling all performances on one venue: the yet-to-be-opened French Cultural Centre (FCC) in Blantyre.
In the three years, activities for the festival were spread across three venues.
BAF director Thom Chibambo said the FCC will be ready for the festival in October.
“Government has assured us the venue will be set for the festival. We will have several stages at the venue, apart from the auditorium and the amphitheatre. For one ticket, patrons can watch all the shows on a particular day,†said Chibambo.
The FCC was looted following French Embassy’s delay to hand it over to government.
Chibambo said the festival will be headlined by Malian singer Salif Keita.
Major partners include Hivos, Germany Embassy and the French Embassy who will sponsor Keita’s coming.
Others are Sunbird Hotels, Air Malawi and OG Issa, said Chibambo.
BAF coordinator MacArthur Matukuta said Elson Kambalu will coordinate the visual arts, Malawi Music Crossroads director Ghayighayi Mfune and Ben Mankhamba will supervise concerts while Mirriam Mwazimva will coordinate drama activities.
Louis Zulu and Vanesa Phiri-Maloya will coordinate the children’s festival while Lucky Mkandawire will handle photography.
“As the festival continues to grow, we want to decentralise so that artists and patrons can know who to talk to during the festival,†said Matukuta.
