Punctuality: Malawi’s event cancer?

Delays to start entertainment events programmes have become a common feature in Malawi in recent years.

It is not uncommon for patrons to be kept waiting for hours on end before music festivals, theatre performances and other events take off contrary to the announced times.

In mind comes the highly-publicised Mlaka Maliro come-back show at Blantyre Sports Club on April 30, the Umhlangano Fundraising Concert at the same venue a week ago, the Deft Poetry Festival at Amaryllis Hotel a month ago and the Miss Culture Beauty pageant two weeks ago. Most recently, the Kizz Daniel concert at Lilongwe Golf Club also faced the same fate. 

The lack of punctuality has often left patrons frustrated as it leaves an effect on the whole schedule some leaving the venues before the performances are through.

Performing artists too have admitted feeling the weight of the effects of the lack of punctuality.

Black Missionaries Band front man Anjiru Fumulani said as a group, they have often been victims of the misalignment of event programmes, a thing which he said affects their state of mind when they get on stage.

“Art is a psychological thing. When we are set for a performance, our minds become programmed that we will perform at such a particular time. Any delays disturb the mood. Imagine being delayed for five hours. It is really disturbing,” he said.

The artist said as performers, they have time and again engaged event organisers on the importance of sticking to announced schedules to get the best out of the events.

But what are the reasons behind this and how can the issue be addressed? Can the tendency be done away with?

One of the country’s well-known event organisers Levi Msakambewa attributed the problem to reasons such as unforeseen circumstances such as late turn up of patrons and lack of proper logistical arrangements concerning the welfare of performing acts.

He said: “No event organiser wants to delay an event on purpose, but there are several considerations that are made. Artists cannot perform before empty venues.”

While admitting that the tendency has a huge effect on everyone involved with a particular event, including patrons, Msakambewa came up with suggestions that can help improve the situation.

“If you hire an artist from Blantyre for an event happening in Lilongwe, it is incumbent upon the organiser to provide all necessary resources and in time too. For a day’s event, we should also consider the number of artists that are involved. The long lists are unnecessary,” he said.

Musician Wendy Harawa, who is part of the Sand Music Festival organising team, under Impakt Events agreed with Msakambewa that different outcomes are determined by situations that arise during events. She said it is always in every organiser’s mind to have an ideal event.