Makhadzi to headline Sandfest, Hangout festivals

South African rising star Makhadzi, real name Ndivhudzannyi Ralivhona, is in October set to perform at this year’s Sand Music Festival as well as the Hangout Festival.

In separate interviews, the  organising teams of the two local festivals confirmed that Makhadzi will perform at the events.

Impakt Events spokesperson Laura Sunganani Banda said Makhadzi will perform on Friday, October 1, at Sand Music Festival alongside Mr P of Nigeria.

“We have a legally binding contract with her and I can assure you that she is coming,” she said.

Banda said even though they have heard that the same artist will be coming to headline the Hangout Festival, they are not worried since she will perform for them first and  is not flouting any rules.

“Our contract with her stipulates that she cannot perform in Malawi a month prior to our event. So, in this case we don’t have any problem with her coming back after Sandfest,” said the local music promoter, who is daughter to musician Soldier Lucius Banda.

In a separate interview, Hangout Festival organiser Wachipeta Mkandawire said they also agreed with Makhadzi’s team for her to perform at their event.

“We already paid her team half of what we agreed. She is coming to our event,” he said.

Wachipeta said they are, however, worried that the same artist will also come for Sandfest earlier than their event.

“We do not have an explanation as to why she decided to accept two invitations from the same country in a space of three weeks,” he said.

Makhadzi is South Africa’s hottest superstar whose recent video for her latest song Ghanama  got over 200 000 views on Youtube within five hours.

Some of her popular songs include Matorokisi, Riya Venda, Kokohva and Red Card.

The Hangout festival will take place from October 29 to October 31 at Kabumba Hotel in Salima, while Sandfest will take place on October 1 to October 3 at Sunbird Nkopola in Mangochi.