Deft Poetry Festival gets K2 million sponsorship

Centre for Sports, Culture and Arts (Cesca) has supported this year’s Deft Poetry Festival with a K2 million contribution.

Speaking during a symbolic cheque presentation at Amaryllis Hotel in Blantyre on Saturday, Cesca chairperson Caleb Thole said they decided to support the festival to promote arts and culture in the country.

He said art has the power to contribute to the social and economic development of the country.

Thole also advised up-and-coming poets to take the opportunity seriously for their growth in the poetry space.

Commenting on this year’s theme, Adoptiom of Renewable Energy, he said it is important as it will use art to talk about sustainable energy in a country struggling to provide renewable sources of energy for its population.

During the ceremony, Amaryllis Hotel marketing and sales manager Khaira Surtee announced that the hotel is an official partner and host of this year’s event. She also said this is a sign of the hotel’s commitment to the arts industry in Malawi.

On his part, Deft Media Malawi director Rodwell Lumbe thanked Cesca for their gesture.

Adding that the festival will run smoothly because of the money that has been rendered. Lumbe also called on the corporate world to open its doors and support poetry through the Deft Poetry Festival.

This year’s Deft Poetry Festival will take place at Amaryllis Hotel on July 30 2022. According to the organisers, the theme is sensitising the masses to refrain from relying on non-sustainable energy sources such firewood and charcoal but to adopt renewable energy sources such as gas, solar and electricity.

Through the festival, organisers hope to use poetry to urge government and stakeholders to make renewable energy sources and information affordable and accessible to an average Malawian.