Sand Festival back October 4 at Sunbird Nkopola
The Sand Festival returns for the fourth year to the palm-fringed beaches of Lake Malawi in October, Lucius Banda and Sunbird Hotels Limited have announced.
Briefing the press at the festival’s traditional home, Sunbird Nkopola in Mangochi on Thursday, Lucius said the three-day fiesta will be back bigger and better from October 4 to 6 this year.
Being a cultural exchange and a tourist attraction, the event will feature South Africa’s Big Naz; Zambia’s Organised Family, B1and JK and Masukus who failed to come last year.
The artists from the Sadc region will perform along with local greats such as Paul Banda and Alleluya Band, Black Missionaries, Skeffa Chimoto, Piksy, Soul Raiders, Lulu and Joe Gwaladi as well as gospel voices Great Angels, Mlaka Maliro, Kamuzu Barracks Singers, Thoko Katimba and Allan Chirwa.
“We are back better, more experienced and knowing more than we did last year. This time, we have shaved the list of performers and people should get ready to have more time with the best of the best,” Lucius said.
Billed at K7 500 (US$23) per head, the festival has also shifted from its traditional dates during the Mother’s Day holiday to pave way for competing fests.
The organisers said they were sure no other festival is happening on the designated duration.
According to Nkopola Hotel manager Silvester Mtambo, Sunbird is ready to provide a suitable lakeside setting for the festival to uplift the arts, sell Malawians culture, promote tourism and exact their corporate social responsibility.
Other activities include beach soccer, chess and acoustic performances by little known artists.
It is budgeted at about K35 million(US$108,359).
