Sickening aroma of summer festivals

Good people, the chilly weather is slowly petering out and smells of the summer sun are already here.

For the adventurous, the return of scorching days and nights signals a season better spent in the breathtaking breezes of Lake Malawi, a home to Lake of Stars and Sunbird Sand arts festivals.

This is the time they head for the beautiful beaches to unwind, re-energise and rejoice in the hissing embrace of the fresh water wonder which was NOT discovered in 1859 when awestruck Scottish explorer Dr David Livingstone aptly christened it “the lake of stars”.

It’s 2014, the year all roads were supposed to lead to one festival at a time—a ceasefire mirrored by Lake of Stars and Sand festivals slated for later this month and September end, respectively.

Good for those craving the long-awaited peaceful co-existence of the festivals which essentially seek to promote the talent and tourism potential of this Warm Heart of Africa of ours!

However, there seems to be a new clash of dates in town.

This time it is a battle of two local affairs—Sand’s fifth coming and Likoma Summer Festival in the weekend spanning August 29-31.

Apparently, this is the weekend local and international adventure-seekers are expected to travel to Salima for Sand’s debut at Sunbird Livingstonia Beach.

This is time the same clients are expected to take the nerve-racking boat rides across the lake to the maiden fiesta unravelling the richness of Likoma Island’s scenery and cultural expression, an unexploited tourism attraction easier discussed than visited even by ministers of tourism!.

This is the time gig-goers wish they were on both sides at the same time, but can only pray for sanity in the way festivals are organised.

This is that time they have to join in or hang—for even the Department of Culture’s calls for order in the jam have fallen on dry rocks.

And this is the time we say bye to the chilly days wishing the summer sun illumined the way out of this capitalistic dilemma.

But this is just another season of maddening choices. Singing along or staying put? It’s a needless dilemma.