Malawi: UMP relaxes awards format

The event will now feature a red-carpet event with a limited audience. Courtesy of Chitoliro Productions, some of the awards’ virtual production elements will remain in place and will be broadcast online and on Mibawa TV. There will be a watch party at the Blue Elephant in Blantyre and at a yet-to-be-determined venue in Mzuzu.

“This year’s UMP Awards will be the best ever, the showbusiness industry in Malawi has grown and so have we,” UMP project manager Khumbo Finto said. “We have put together an exciting line-up, and we urge people to grab the limited tickets that are on offer.”

Confirmed artists who will perform at the event include Salama Dancers, Phyzix, Lily Banda, Marko Sadik, Henry Czar, Quest, Kingdom Child, McLuther, RJ the DJ and DJ West.

“Urban Music People has decided to allow a limited number of people at this year’s award ceremony to take place. This is because the numbers of COVID-19 have gone down, but measures will still be adhered to,” UMP said.

Meanwhile, the nominees for this year’s awards will be announced at the Golden Peacock Hotel in Blantyre on 28 November. The organisers have named dancehall singer Wendy Harawa as the recipient of this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award. Previous UMP Lifetime Achievement Award recipients include Jai Banda, Lucius Banda, Tapps Bandawe, Oscar Thomson, Mafunyeta, Vic Marley, Dynamike and Black Life Entertainment.

Tickets to the event can be purchased at N1 Cafe and Grill in Lilongwe.