NKHATA BAY-(MaraviPost)- The United Nations (UN) Malawi office, main sponsors of this year’s Lake of Stars (LoS) has emphasized the need for the country to embrace climate action in addressing effects of climate change.
Among climate change actions the UN advanced include distribution of 1000 reusable water bottles, waste management, art Glo youth performance on climate change.
Not only but also engaging young people to agents of change on gender based violence and equality.
UN Resident Coordinator Maria Jose Torres told the Maravi Post after gracing LoS at Kachere Kastle in Nkhata Bay district that young people being large constituents of the country’s population needs to embrace climate action.
Torres said through entertainment climate action which one of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) could be propelled easily.
She therefore lauded Malawi government for wining plastic ban in court urging people to practically embrace the initiative.
“Climate action is now a serious business all of us we need to embrace to change the scope on effects of Climate whose key agents are young people through entertainment, culture and among others.
“This is the reason this year UN partnered with LoS that climate action strategies be put straight to young people whom are real agents of change,” says Torres.Leave no trace clean up exercise, including sorting of waste for composite manure and proper disposal
She added, “Climate action demands all of us to encourage use of reusable plastics, bottles, cleaning up initiative of wastes through entertainment which many young people embrace”.
LoS Country Coordinator Yolanda Ng’oma lauded UN Malawi office for support saying climate action is now a talk among young people.
Minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism Salim Bagus also hailed the event saying it will boost Malawi tourism industry as many people at the festival came from outside the country.
Bagus said the event is a boost to the country’s economy.
“At least 65 percent of people who have come here are foreigners who will carry the good message about Malawi tourism to their countries,” he said.
Lake of Stars is a three-day international festival held on the shores of Lake Malawi, the third largest fresh-water lake in Africa.
This year’s festival attracted both legendary and upcoming artists from Malawi and Zambia, Zimbabwe and South Africa.
Probably, the festival, which started on Friday, reached its climax around 8 pm on Saturday when Faith Mussa, one of the headline artists from Malawi, jumped on stage.
Mussa entertained the audience with his magical way of playing the guitar which made the audience to keep on asking for more music from him.
Another impressive performance came from South African songbird Amanda Black who gave out her best.
Amanda, who sang for about an hour, impressed the audience with her Zulu love songs.
Upcoming dancehall artist Malinga Mafia stole the show with his song Too Many and it was his first time to perform at the Lake of Stars.
Other upcoming artists that performed at the festival include Jacaranda School of Music and Lazarus and Raising Malawi Band.
This year’s Lake of Stars also gave platform to upcoming poets to showcase their talent to the international audience.
Many people who came to the festival expressed satisfaction.
George James, who came all the way from Norway, said she was very impressed with the beauty of Lake Malawi, culture and Food from Malawi. “I will come again next time,” he said.
This is the fifteenth edition of LoS since its inception in Malawi.
