The Lake of Stars Project will celebrate its 10 Year Anniversary by hosting a brand new city-based festival and arts conference in Lilongwe, Malawi from 27 to 28 September 2013.
The event saw Kenyan artiste, Dan 'Chizi' Aceda perform at their inaugural event. Now, the City of Stars is back. It will be a two-day, multi-venue arts festival and conference showcasing the best in emerging and acclaimed talent from Malawi and beyond. Featuring an eclectic programme of live music, film, theatre, literature, exhibitions and speakers, it will promote Malawian culture and creativity as well as attracting international artists and arts practitioners.
Lake of Stars Founder and Director Will Jameson says of the project: “The two things that make Lake of Stars such a unique festival are its location and the people of Malawi - City of Stars will focus on the second of these. We are upping the reach and the accessibility of the project, by bringing the experience off the shore and into the Garden City, Lilongwe.”
Will says this year we are fortunate to have the support of a number of key funding partners including the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Lilongwe, Malawi’s Latitude 13 hotel and Scotland’s David Livingstone 200 Fund.
The Norwegian Ambassador to Malawi Mr Asbjørn Eidhammer says: “We are proud to support the City of Stars Festival as we know the role event and cultural tourism can play in raising much needed revenue and foreign currency in Malawi.
Will says: “As well as appointing a Malawian project manager, we are working with Malawian artistic partners including Zilanie Nyundo (Fashion Malawi Edition and CREAM!), Music Crossroads and Rhythm of Life Malawi.”
Gayighayi Matthews Mfune from Music Crossroads says: “City of Stars will feature exhibitors, speakers and workshops that will inspire Malawi’s creative entrepreneurs to build on what they do best; to explore, innovate, and create projects and events that contribute to the development of Malawi.”
Will adds that: “We’ve already confirmed international artists The Very Best, Glasgow’s Auntie Flo and London spoken word artist George the Poet and will shortly be issuing a call out to Malawian and international artists.”
Starting on UN World Tourism Day, City of Stars will launch festival season in Malawi with the Blantyre Arts Festival taking place the weekend after and various Mother’s Day parties planned around the country.
Will says: “We are proud to be part of the growth of festivals now taking place across the country and encourage Malawians and tourists to take advantage of Malawi’s amazing natural and cultural assets.”
Since 2004 the Lake of Stars project has staged an award-winning festival on the shores of Lake Malawi, alongside other events in the UK and across the globe. The project has reached more than 200 million people through international and local media coverage. It has generated over $3 million spend and 200 employment opportunities in Malawi.
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