Zomba City Festival founder Laura Schuerwegen has said they will continue selling the city to the world.
The festival run its sixth edition last weekend, featuring 40 artists from different disciplines.
The artists starred at venues such as the University of Malawi (Unima) campus and The Blend.
She said they were happy with patronage.
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“It has been a long journey to reach this far but we keep on making progress. It has been difficult with an increasingly difficult global and local climate,” Schuerwegen said.
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She went on to acknowledge the many individuals and institutions that continued to make the festival possible—from long-standing volunteers and partners to collaborators such as Unima, the Film Department and other cultural stakeholders.
Schuerwegen said patrons’ experiences over the three days were built on months of unseen work and commitment.
“This festival exists because it is needed. It is a space for young people to perform, to be seen, to be discovered; a place where different people come together to create and imagine,” she said.
Director of the National Archives of Malawi Paul Lihoma commended the festival.
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He said, during the opening ceremony, that festival organisers were consistent, offering people the best of art and culture for six years.
“We look forward to more [festivals],” Lihoma said.
The festival’s itinerary started with a street parade on Friday before the official opening.
It later transitioned into Unima Open Air, hosted by Clovixx, with performances from Baxxy MW, Eco Jayvee, Major Zack and Lipepedwa.
The Unima Open Air was filled with music, interaction, food and a strong sense of togetherness.
The second day marked the peak of the festival, drawing patrons from across the country and beyond into Zomba.
Activities unfolded across multiple venues— Signature, Mango Lodge and Blend—reflecting the multidisciplinary nature of the festival.
At Signature, the day began with aerobics, before Jacaranda Kids delivered a captivating performance that left patrons in awe.
Later in the evening, patrons were treated to a daring act by Murray Molloy from Ireland. His sword-swallowing act stunned patrons.
Musical performances followed and included Nambe Chapo, whose expressive set resonated with the crowd, and Amidu, who performed his classic ‘Udikilebe’.
The other performers were Chikondi Wiseman and a high-energy DJ set by DDB B2B Fomo.
At Blend, patrons experienced a more intimate and reflective atmosphere, with appearances from renowned poet Q Malewezi alongside book readings and literary sessions.
On the other side, Kweza hosted open performances that encouraged participation and creative expression.
The final day brought a strong close to the festival, with poetry performances from Alfred the Dawn, Monalisa Alfonso, and Eagle Pro with Nathaniel Chaluchalu and Eugene Rein serving music.
