Preview: Sunbird Sand Festival begins today
Until 2010, the mention of picturesque Lake Malawi and world music were sign posts to the globally acclaimed jam—Lake of Stars Arts Festival.
However, the festival named after Scot missionary explorer Dr David Livingstone’s first impression of the continent’s third largest fresh water body has finally given birth to a new music encounter which will run from tonight to Sunday at Sunbird Nkopola in Malawi’s shoreline district of Mangochi.
Born of local artists desire to be treated and remunerated with respect, Sunbird Sand Festival is not just renowned as a rare encounter with the starry waters of the lake, its palm-fringed golden beaches, tanning sun and the inviting nature of its people.
As witnessed during its fourth return last year, it is blossoming into a meeting with the beats of Southern Africa.
Having jived to South Africa’s award-winning house king Professor of Lento Fame in 2012, those trekking to the vast venue where the fun is happening until Sunday are in for a treat from Prof’s compatriot Big Nuz of Ntumbeni hit, Zambia’s Chishala hitmaker B1 and Marcopolo duo Organized Family.
However, those dying for something truly Malawian are guaranteed a diversity of talents, fusions and names that make the local beats and pieces a special spectacle in the world.
First, be warned: Black Missionaries, the reggae group which co-founded Sand Festival along with Lucius Banda and Tay Grin at Zithere Pano in 2009, will not be part of the cast as the feast coincides with their tour of South Africa which ends later this month.
In the absence of the Malawi’s stage kings, friends of music will have to do with a no less star-studded playlist, starring Soul Raiders, Paul Banda, Soldier’s Zembani Band, Maskal, Giddes Chalamanda and the jamming machine Skeffa Chimoto.
This is solely the big-stage cast. On the small stage, for the pensive onlookers on the prowl for something underground, there will be Joe Gwaladi, Giddes Chalamanda, Snowden Ibbu and comedian Mr Jokes.
In Chalamanda and Ibu, gig makers have the very best of Malawi’s folk music, a day out with the remnants of the ancient crop that is still insistent on pure accoustic sound.
Yet it is Gwaladi, who seldom performs on A-rated gig grounds, who will show you why Zambians call him Malawi’s General Kanene; expect all the raw lyrics, explicit naratives that would deliver life-saving sexual reproductive health messages with a bruising bluntness many listeners mistake for obscenities.
Are you looking for something more spiritual than worldly? Sunday could be your day as the shutdown is perfectly knitted to give you the very best of the gospel side of the local tunes. The performers include Thoko Katimba and Great Angels.
This represents a big downturn on the sprawling cast that stamped their footprints in the festival’s history last year.
Organiser-in-chief Soldier assured the press that all is set to ensure the chosen few give party makers a memorable time the calendar event represents. A tour of Nkopola confirmed the stage is set, the wine and dine ready and Sunbird and its partner resorts are open to business.
Likewise, the meteorology department has also told The Nation what started as a chilling scare early this week will evarporate, leaving a series of sunny days as the music-hearted patrons get a glimpse of Malawi’s tourism potential and diverse creativity.
As arts journalist, I have followed the festival since its big-bang start in summer 2009. This year, I’m looking forward to three days that are hot—hot enough to make you fan yourself after every set or too hot to allow you leave the stunning lakeside venue without a healing swim in Lake Malawi where busybees unwind for a perfect escape.
All tweethearts, follow @chavulaj and @malawination on Twitter to get the music as it happens at Sunbird Nkopola. Our hashtag is #MalawiSandFest
