UMP Festival is back with a bang!
In 2009, a new urban festival, a celebration of urban music and arts was born. It was called the UMP Festival. Over the years, the festival continued to be a celebration of urban music and culture. It gave birth to annual awards and other activities. But in 2017, the UMP Festival took a hiatus. Now this year, the festival organisers Chitoliro Productionz seem to plan a big comeback. Our reporter WANTWA MWAMLIMA caught up with the organisers spokesperson Marie Thom for details:
Q
: UMP Festival has not happened for the past few years. Is there any hope for a comeback?
A
: Yes, UMP Festival is actually making a comeback this year.
Chitoliro Productionz is excited and privileged to announce that after a seven-year hiatus, the Urban Music People (UMP) Festival, with the 2024 edition dubbed The Evolution is back. In a strategic move to further integrate urban culture with the scenic lakeshore regions, the flagship UMP event has relocated to Cape Maclear, Mangochi and is scheduled for three days from October 25 to 28 2024. This shift from cities, specifically Lilongwe and Blantyre, symbolises a broader recognition of lakeshore areas as vibrant urban centres, nurturing connections between urban hubs and lakeside communities. By embracing Cape Maclear’s local community and natural beauty, the festival endeavours to flip the script on local tourism, creating local and international connections, and making moves that matter. Central to UMP’s ethos is the fusion of global solution thinking with authentic African urban identity. This philosophy underscores the festival’s mission to cultivate open-mindedness and global citizenship while celebrating the rich cultural heritage of urban Africa. UMP’s influence transcends national borders, with the movement extending its reach beyond Malawi since its international debut in 2017. As UMP continues to evolve, it seeks to foster a global network of artists and thinkers committed to effecting positive change through music and cultural expression. So, we urge Malawians to get ready to vibe out and get set to experience the magic of UMP like never before.
Q: How will artists get their opportunity to participate in the forthcoming festival?
A
: In the spirit of fairness and equal opportunities, UMP Festival organisers have actually opened invitations of applications from both up-and-coming and established artists from across the world in all creative realms. Successful applicants will perform at UMP Festival 2024 which is dubbed The Evolution. This year’s three-day UMP Festival will include music, film, fashion, poetry, art exhibition, sports, games and other recreational activities. A team of professionals from above-mentioned disciplines and the media will be mandated to shortlist the applicants. UMP will further be announcing names on a rolling basis and the team will also do an active search to fill in specific roles at the festival. Please note that special invitations will be sent to selected local and international acts based on characteristics aligned with the theme of the festival. The final list will perform alongside local and international headliners to be announced soon.
Q
: Do you have any names of those already identified to headline the festival?
A
: Onesimus is our first headliner of the UMP Festival. As Chitoliro Productionz, we are excited to announce him as the first headliner at UMP Festival 2024 The Evolution. Onesimus, also known as African Butter, is a multi award-winning singer and songwriter with a string of hits, including Solomon and Controller, among others. Onesimus will share the stage with other local and international acts to be announced as we countdown to the final showdown.
Q
: Any final remarks?
A
: Just to refresh people’s memories since it has been seven years we last had this festival, I will list down some of the highlights of the UMP Festival history. The UMP Festival began as a mini-concert at Grin Bamboo in Blantyre in 2009 by employing a makeshift stage on the back of a truck. Previously known as Urban Music Party and now rebranded as Urban Music People, UMP Festival was last held at Blantyre Sports Club in 2017 where South African rappers Emtee and Nadia Nakai performed. Other past performers at UMP festivals have included acclaimed artists such as Gemini Major, Pop Dogg, Sonye, Purple C, Tay Grin and Fredokiss. This is the first time the UMP Festival is happening at the lake. Previous venues, including the French Cultural Centre, Blantyre Sports Club, BAT and Grin Bamboo, have served as stages for these electrifying performances, each contributing to the vibrant tapestry of UMP’s journey.
