Nyezinyezi Yo Iwala (The Shining Stars)

We just returned from the Lake of the Stars music festival, four day event which in past years has attracted thousands of Europeans, Americans and Africans to the shores of Lake Malawi.

Unlike 90% of the attendees who camped along the lakeshore, Vince and I accompanied by our Canadian friends, Sue and Peter, opted for a modest motel billed as “Palm Beach Holiday Inn Resort.” The inn itself was pleasant enough and it had three resident dogs, including a sweet boxer who seemed to be leading an idyllic life on the beach. We saved one of our breakfast sausages for “Hunter” and he became our best buddy lounging each day between our beachside chairs.

When we finally found our way to the festival one evening, we were greeted by a policeman who thoroughly searched the car, poking his fingers into every one of our goody bags and slyly took a cookie out of a package inquiring if he could have it. At least we weren’t carded and kicked out of the festival due to our advanced age!

With a good 30 to 40 minutes of dead time between scheduled acts, the young crowd busied itself drinking beer and dancing to the loud disco music which deafened our ears. Meanwhile, we lounged lazily on our blanket and awaited the main act of Lucias Banda, a Malawian legend with 15 recorded CDs to his credit. Lucias, his band and his lively dancers did not disappoint us. The band wowed the crowd while Banda’s well honed banter mesmerized us. A young white male volunteered to dance on stage with a “wild and exotic” female from Banda’s dance troupe. Hips flying and lewd gyrations pulsed to the beat of the music. Let’s just say that Vince was glad he hadn’t volunteered!

Heading back to the car about 10pm, we were asked by folks just arriving, “Are you leaving already?” It was enough for us – we left the young folks to dance on the beach until the wee hours of the morning. At least we could say we’d been there.