American R&B singer Brian McKnight will perform in Malawi for the first time following a major financial partnership between FDH Bank and Malawian artist Lawi, according to Nyasa Times. The US star is scheduled to headline the "Sunset in the Warm Heart" concert on August 1 at Game Havens in Thyolo. FDH Holdings marketing manager Tiyese Kayimila stated that the bank seized the opportunity to support the cultural event, noting that it is a rare occurrence for an artist of McKnight's international profile to visit the country. Local musician Lawi, whose group is organizing the show, described the upcoming concert as a historic moment for Malawian entertainment.
In other arts news, a recent Lilongwe pool party successfully merged live music with visual arts, Nation Online reports. Event organizers held a visual arts competition where artists painted pieces in the days leading up to the gathering. During the event, fans were given the opportunity to temporarily shift their attention from the stage to vote for their favourite artworks. Twenty-one-year-old Enisa Kachikuni won the competition and took home a K1 million prize. Following her win, Kachikuni said that integrating visual arts into music events helps expose local painters to larger crowds and new audiences.