Blantyre’s Kamuzu Upper Stadium on Sunday played host to the 15th edition of Blantyre Arts Festival (Baf).
It was a weekend crowded with festivals as, apart from Baf, there was the three-day Mulhako wa Alhomwe at Chonde in Mulanje. Mulhako wa Alhomwe’s climax was on Sunday.
The Malawi University of Science and Technology (Must) Cultural Research and Innovation Festival also took place on the same weekend in Thyolo District. It started on Friday and ended on Saturday.
Baf pulled its own audience, which sampled a horde of activities before reggae group Black Missionaries and Anthony Mr Cool Makondetsa closed the curtain with short performances.
Jetu was the centre of attraction and once she jumped on stage, she received a delirium of cheers from patrons.
Backed by a DJ, Jetu delivered a number of songs. They included ‘Chakwaza’ and ‘Wakalamba Wafuna’.
There was also a TNM Super League match at Kamuzu Stadium involving FCB Nyasa Big Bullets and Mafco. This did not keep away fun lovers from the festival, with some football fans joining the party after the match.
The festival’s executive director Thom Chibambo described this year’s festival as a success. He described it as a platform that elevated family entertainment.
“Apart from local artists, we had artists from outside the country. These included a visually challenged DJ from Zimbabwe and a cultural troupe from Zimbabwe, who performed really well,” Chibambo said.
He further said they would continue to hold the festival free-of-charge to give fun lovers a chance to party with their favourite artists.
However, some patrons felt that it was time to reenergise the festival.
“The festival already made a name and, in its early years, it was really setting the pace but, now, I feel like the adrenaline is gone. Let them refresh it,” Benard Chirwa, a resident of Bangwe, said.
This year’s festival ran under the theme ‘Preserving Culture and Climate Resilience’.
Some of the sponsors of this year’s festival included Unesco, Friends of Malawi Circles in Germany, Hannover City in Germany, First Capital Bank, Cepa, Cisonnec and Blantyre City Council.
Other artists that starred at the one-day event included Kommuniq and Santy. There was also ballet served by children.
