TWO Zimbabwean artistes are set to perform at the 2024 edition of Urban Music People (UMP) Festival at Cape Maclear, Mangochi, from October 25 to 28.
Cape Maclear, or Chembe, is a town on Malawi’s Nankumba Peninsula, at the southern end of Lake Malawi.
Surrounded by forested mountains, it is known for the sandy beaches and granite rocks of Lake Malawi National Park in Mangochi district.
Raven Duchess and Faray the Great will be among the list of international acts set to headline the festival.
According to her profile, Raven Duchess is a soulful, vibrant jazz and folk music singer, songwriter, producer and mental health advocate.
She says her distinctly silky, jazzy voice and soothing music is a fusion of African Zimbabwean mbira folk music that captures audience’s attention.
On the other hand, Faray the Great says he is a world music and jazz fusion singer as well as songwriter.
He recorded his debut album titled Foundations (Moto Werudo) in 2014, a fusion of traditional local rhythms and Western music elements.
Announcing the developments, Malawi’s Chitoliro Productionz said the event would be headlined by South Africa-based Malawian musician Onesimus.
“The line-up includes a mixture of local and international artists from different art forms including music, spoken word, theatre, fine arts and dance,” it said.
“The event will be headlined by South Africa-based Malawian musician Onesimus and performances by other acts like Zinhle Madela (South Africa), Raven Duchess (Zimbabwe), Muhonja (Kenya) and Remnants (Zambia), among others.”
UMP Festival executive producer Ken Zizwa said he was ecstatic about the upcoming event.
“We are thrilled to reveal to our fans and stakeholders the initial talent line-up, which blends local and international acts across a breadth of creative realms and a mix of styles and approaches,” he said.
“[This is] all part of a meaningful integration and cultural exchange between Malawi and the global scene.”
Below is the full line-up:
Music
International: Zinhle Madela (South Africa), Ntuja (South Africa), Maveriq Mavo (South Africa), The Ells (Namibia), Raven Duchess (Zimbabwe), Faray the Great (Zimbabwe), Okie Worldwide (Tanzania), Naimah (South Africa), Muhonja (Kenya), ÀNESI (Nigeria) and Remnants (Zambia).
Local: Onesimus, Phyzix, Giboh Pearson, Temwah, Tuno, Mario Bros, Afana Ceez, Zonke Too Fresh, Trumel, Bucci, Nepman, Stich Fray, Pop Young, Sean Morgan, Anthony Makondesa, Tuff Lions Band, Soul Jive, Born Afrikan, Dr Ethel Kamwendo-Banda, BeeJay and Ace Jizzy and Lomwe.
DJs
DJ Flame, DJ West, DJ Maaz,
DJ Musk, DJ Bubble Gum, Amtanga the DJ, La Perle the DJ, DJ Boo, DJ Harshtag265 and Itsall Blaq (eSwatini).
Spoken word,
Priest the Poet (Kenya), Luleka Mhlanzi (South Africa), Nyamalikiti Nthiwatiwa (Malawi), Q Malewezi (Malawi) and Refilwe Ntopa (Malawi)
Theatre
Migrant Arts/UNIMA, Thabo Mabaso (South Africa), Fine arts and Kwandu Muyamwa (Zambia),
Fashion designers
Doll Mabel and Vivietta Designs
Filmmakers
Chaz, Dance,
The Most Wanted, Fighters Dancers Crew, Beginners Dance Crew, Nicole Kamwendo, Junior Cee, Sam Kabambe, Mwai Simbota and DJ Goxy