Festival season is upon us once again and we are kicking it off with Zomba City Festival which is taking place this weekend. I talked to one of the organizers Sharon Kadangwe to get all the gist on Zomba’s annual vibrant festival. Here’s everything you need to know about Zomba City Festival.
What exactly is the Zomba City Festival and how significant is it to the community?
Zomba City Festival is a multiarts festival that takes place in the idyllic town of Zomba, Malawi’s former capital. It offers an array of activities for all ages, making it a family friendly affair. From music to theatre, fashion, dance, poetry, visual arts, film, and workshops, Zomba City Festival provides a vibrant and energetic experience. The festival is organized by Zomba Arts Platform (ZAP). ZAP aims to elevate the creative industry by helping artists monetize their craft through services, event management solutions, coaching, and more. Through Zomba City Festival, ZAP promotes local tourism, creates jobs for artists, women, and the youth, offers workshops, and showcases multiple forms of arts
What inspired the creation of the Zomba City Festival, and how has it evolved over the years?
The Zomba City Festival was initiated to boost tourism in the region, which initially lacked representation on the national tourism website. Despite this oversight, Zomba boasts ample attractions for visitors. The festival’s aim was to showcase these offerings and encourage exploration of the area through an annual event. Starting as a grassroots effort, the festival has evolved into a lively gathering that draws travellers from both near and far, while remaining deeply ingrained in the local community. Its success is evident in the increased visibility of Zomba and the uptick in visitor numbers over recent years. With a focus on tourism, organizers have ramped up efforts to enhance its international appeal by inviting artists from neighbouring countries and implementing a targeted PR campaign across Southern Africa. Over time, the festival has increasingly embraced its role as a community-centric affair, generating excitement throughout Zomba and beyond.
What’s the goal of the festival?
The mission of the festival is to highlight Zomba as a tourism destination and to showcase African arts and culture. The beauty and rich heritage of Zomba is the perfect setting for Zomba City Festival. Under the foot of Zomba Mountain, festival goers experience a one-of-a-kind festival that offers educational experiences as well. One of the activities we offer is the historical walk, where festival goers learn more about Zomba history before they head to other activities across our venues. The creative industry is growing in Malawi, as global interest in African arts and culture also keeps rising. Zomba City Festivals brings together upcoming and established artists from Zomba, Malawi, and the rest of the world, and supports them by connecting them to a diverse local and international audience.
What were some highlights from the previous ZCF’s?
In 2023, we were fortunate enough to receive funding from the Sound Connects Fund (SCF), which allowed us to bring to life ambitious ideas and dreams, such as an all-female lineup and a beautiful parade through Zomba town with the Zomba Prison Band. Another special thing about the Zomba City Festival is its team. For the past four years, the team has grown and through continued mentoring and training, it has become a strong team of professionals who are in demand at other events and festivals in the country. The team counts many who have been on board since the first year and who have developed in ways beyond our expectation.
What types of activities and events can attendees expect to experience at the 2024 Zomba City Festival?
The theme of ZCF24 is Building Brighter Futures and we have an exciting lineup of activities planned for 26 to 28 April including local and international acts. There will be music, fashion, visual arts exhibition, historical walk, yoga, aerobics, food and drinks stalls, speed dating, DJs, dance, Artsy Alley (kid’s festival), workshops, poetry and literature readings, theatre, comedy, and more. There are five venues this year including UNIMA, The Heritage Centre, Dom’s Garden, Chalice Vine, and the Botanic Gardens where all the activities will be taking place. Our social media pages have more information about all the acts and activities for this year.
