Baf refuses to fall

Since its foundation in 2009, Blantyre Arts Festival (Baf) has been on the ascendancy, appealing to the creative sector.

The annual free-of-charge festival which has run in different venues in the commercial city has brought on stage top acts such as Jamaica’s Mutabaruka and Mali’s Salif Keita.

However, the festival has in recent years lost its steam with some quarters writing it off that its echoes were fading with its collapse looming.

But Baf Executive Director Thom Chibambo insisted Tuesday that the festival’s rhyme and rhythm were intact with its direction still the same.

“Our direction has not changed. The free of charge festival that people know is there and we remain culturally oriented and our commitment in empowering women, girls and young people are integral priorities,” Chibambo said.

The festival in partnership with Apama Arts Zimbabwe has since announced the free-ofcharge Blantyre Dance Festival set for Chichiri Museum on October 3 2026.

Running under the theme ‘Uniting nations through music, dance and poetry’, the performances include all registered dance groups including Mizu Vintage, Gap Connection, Future Kings and The Big Dance Crew.

The others are Slyc Anene, Apama Arts from Zimbabwe, Dikamawoko, Kinta, DJ V2G, DJ Damex Wachikuda and Kinta.

“A festival that is collapsing would not have come up with this powerful initiative aimed at empowering young people and creative with regional training skills from Zimbabwe coming in to work with local artists and later showcasing the skills to the general public,” Chibambo said.

He said this year’s event seeks to exploit on collaborations as part of opening up opportunities for creatives.

“There will be more of such happenings and we are looking at additional value including cementing a relationship of creative from Malawi and Zimbabwe,” Chibambo said.

He said that Baf will continue to utilise its space to give creative a chance to showcase their works and at the same time play its role of elevating tourism as well as promoting and preserving culture.