Sandfest goes local

Organisers of the annual Sand Music Festival, Impakt Events Management, say time has come for the event to rely on local artists to headline the festival.

Impakt Events Management director Lucius Banda said this year’s event will be headlined by local artists and that a few foreign artists will only come in to support the Malawian artists as a form of cultural exchange.

“We believe we have reached a level where Malawians can understand what we are trying to do. It is the same in the region. This is a Malawian event and it will be headlined by Malawians,” he said.

Banda said he believes the shift will not have any adverse effects on the popularity of the event as he believes that people follow the event because of the experience it brings and not the names that perform at the event.

Meanwhile, Impakt Events Management has already announced two foreign acts, Murumba Pitch from South Africa and Organised Family from Zambia as some of the acts that will perform at the festival slated for September 29 to October 1.

On Thursday, Impakt Events Management sealed a partnership of K25 million with beverage brewers Castel Malawi Limited.

The sponsorship represents a 75 percent jump from last year when Castel Malawi gave Sandfest K16 million.

Banda said the partnership is a vote of confidence on their part as it shows that their partners are convinced with how they are managing their sponsorship.

“This is the biggest amount that we have ever received from a company as Sandfest. We appreciate of that. Castel Malawi has been with us from the start and they share in our ideals of making this platform an exciting one,” he said.

Castel Malawi brands manager Pheona Nyambo said the festival compliments their business and the sponsorship is a message to the organisers that they are ready to walk with them.

She said: “Every time the event comes up, we are always behind them. The partnership has been yielding since it allows us to share the experience that our consumers go through during the festival.”