The Lake of Stars Festival is back this year having taken a break last year.
\nIn 2016, the festival returned to its original home \u2013 Chintheche Inn in Nkhata Bay but the organisers are yet to announce this year\u2019s venue.
\nThis year the festival is celebrating its 15th anniversary and has since put in place other activities ahead of the main festival to run from September 28 to 30 2018.
\nOne of the events on the menu is \u2018Set It Off\u2019.
\nLake of Stars Festival Spokesperson, Zilanie Gondwe, said this year they will be holding the \u2018Set It Off\u2019 event at Chancellor College in Zomba on September 27, Lake of Stars London on March 10 and then Lake of Stars Scotland on March 11.
\n\u201cWe brought \u2018Set It Off\u2019 to Zomba as it\u2019s a city with great history and potential and as Lake of Stars we are excited to hold such an event. This continues our work highlighting fantastic tourist destinations in Malawi and raising awareness of them,\u201d Gondwe said.
\nShe said that they believe that The Great Hall and Little Theatre where the free event will be held are excellently designed but under-used venues.
\n\u201cWe hope that as with the Kamuzu Institute for Sports last year, our event there can help put them back on the map,\u201d Gondwe said.
\nShe said that they have always represented women in their performers and crew and that they are always looking to book more.
\n\u201cIn 2016, there were comparatively few performers on the main stage. We thought Set It Off would be a great way to start challenging that, and create a new platform for many of the great female artists, who are doing exciting things in their scenes,\u201d the spokesperson said.
\nGondwe said they noted the scarcity of shows in January and that \u2018Set It Off\u2019 was simply free entry.
\n\u201cAfter a year hiatus for the festival, we are back for our 15th anniversary and this is why we have a range of events lined up in 2018 ahead of the main event in September,\u201d she said.
\nOn the Lake of Stars London, which has seen poet Julius Banda calling for support, Gondwe said the full list of the lineup will be out soon.
\n\u201cThe Lake of Stars London will feature musicians and other artists. So far from Malawi we have Faith Mussa and Zaluso Arts and these are our first Malawian acts to be booked. There are also Malawian acts based in United Kingdom which we will announce,\u201d Gondwe said.
\nShe explained that some artists are being supported to attend by British Council, who have given Lake of Stars Festival support for Zambian and South African acts as well.
\n\u201cSo we are taking artists over using a mix of ticket sales and support from partners. Waltham Forest Council, British Council and Wood Street Walls among others, are all supporting the project together, \u201cshe said.
\nAsked why they have selected only a few acts from Malawi and only paid for a few, Gondwe said:
\n\u201cBudget restrictions cannot extend to as many Malawian artists,\u201d Gondwe said.
\nMeanwhile, Lake of Stars Festival has indicated that it will start receiving applications from artists, vendors and volunteers in February 2018 and that details on venue and line-up will be announced in March 2018.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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