Blog: Lake of Stars Festival, Malawi

The 10^th Lake of Stars Festival (LoS) 2014

Africa’s finest music, literature and dance festival returns to the lakeshore 26^th Sept 2014.

LoS began in 2004 with the aim of facilitating Malawi’s artistic community’s access to a broader audience. LoS combines local Malawian artists, UK artists and players from across African to collaborate for mutual benefit. The 2013 festival, City of Stars, was held in Lilongwe and was a great success but there’s no doubt the lake shore is the better venue and 2014 sees the return of LoS to the shore of Lake Malawi.

Music, theatre, poetry, film, comedy, literature and dance are always well represented, and new for 2014 is a series of talks covering topics such as technology, the creative industries and science, all of which take place in one of three performance stages: Village, Beach and Lake.

There is a big family focus in 2014 with children aged 12 or under gaining free entrance. There’s a children’s programme of activities including storytelling, drumming workshops, bouncy castles and face-painting.  LoS also run a vibrant Outreach Festival that includes local communities, particularly neighbouring Chipoka Village; this is where the Book Bus has partnered LoS over the past few years and brought its expertise to the Festival. The ever-popular football tournament is included in these activities.

The Star Bar will be back, better than ever, in its usual position near the main performance stage, Lake Stage.  Expect friendly bar staff, sugarcane juice cocktails and some long nights with music from Malawi and around the World.

UK and African festival directors will be attending this year to scout for Malawian talent.  Following the success of City of Stars 2013 that saw Peter Mawanga booked by Celtic Connections, Glasgow in January 2014. LoS will continue to bring festival bookers to Malawi to help other artists develop their international careers.

“If you come to Lake Of Stars, you will love yourself more and you will love the world more.”