Ole Themba star to headline Nkopola festival

The return of the international Lake of Stars Festival (LoS) to Nkhata Bay has given birth to a new festival at Sunbird Nkopola Lodge in Mangochi on September 17 and 18.

Already, organisers have struck a deal with Tanzanian sensetional artist Linah Sanga of Ole Themba fame to headline the event alongside Zambia’s B1 and Malawi’s reggae kings, the Black Missionaries.

Spokesperson of the event Cynthia Zonda said the festival, dubbed Nkopola Summer Splash, is in response to the request by music lovers.

“The request was echoed by Sunbird Nkopola who have since offered free venue having noted how we successfully ran our recent events,” said Zonda.

Events managers Smooth Touch Promotions and Active X Entertainment are behind the contemporary celebration of arts and culture to promote artists, products and tourism in Malawi.

Last Easter weekend, the two firms successfully organised the Chikale Easter Beach Festival in Nkhata Bay.

In an interview, Sanga said she is excited to perform in Malawi, especially that it is her first time “to meet my Malawian fans”.

“Fans in Malawi have to expect a good performance from me,” said Sanga, the 2011 Best Female Singer and Best Upcoming Artist in the Killi Awards, the biggest music awards in Tanzania.

She had also been nominated for the African Entertainment Awards as Best Female Artist of the Year. In her music career which officially begun in 2009, she has produced a single album called Atatamani. n