The Stanbic Musical Festival enters its fifth year next weekend with two American R&B musicians Joseph Lewis Thomas a.k.a Joe and Brian McKnight live in Zambia.
And MTN Zambia has partnered with Stanbic Bank by sponsoring the festival with support valued at K360,000 that includes the MTN’s state-of-the-art mobile satellite.
Joe and Brian McKnight became global stars in the 1990s with numerous R&B hits and jazz-themed flavours that topped the charts in the United States and Europe.
The two globally-renowned artists will be supported by a number of local female artists, who includes the soulful Wezi, who will make her third appearance at the festival.
Other local supporting acts include: Kiki, Salma Sky and gospel artist Esther Chungu.
Speaking during a joint-press briefing in Lusaka, Thursday, MTN Zambia acting chief executive Kombe Malukutila announced that the company would support Stanbic Bank’s engagement with festival goers, reaching more than 3.5 million customers across the Lusaka, Southern and Copperbelt provinces.
“As a proud sponsor of the festival, MTN Zambia will provide support valued at K360,000 that includes: MTN’s state of the art mobile satellite. The company will also support Stanbic Bank’s engagement with festival goers, reaching more than 3.5 million customers across Lusaka, Livingstone and Copperbelt Province,” Malukutila said.
“The Stanbic Music Festival is a prime example of how we can bring people together. As MTN Zambia, we are always striving to help Zambians make meaningful connections through the many platforms we offer. Whether it is through our mobile money, data or voice call platform, our passion in giving Zambians connectively is what attracted us to be part of the festival this year.”
And Stanbic Bank corporate investment bank director Helen Lubamba said the bank focuses on uplifting the lives of the community through local cultural and tourism.
“As part of our commitment to our investments in Zambia, we focus to uplift the lives of the community through local sponsorship; cultural and tourism. We have also made a social impact in this country, which is a key part of what we do. We have sponsored the number of traditional ceremonies in addition to this music festival, which includes: Ukusefya Mangwena in the North-Western [Province]; Ncala in the East and Chakwela Makumbi in Chongwe and the Kuomboka in the Western Province,” Lubamba said.
She added that the Zambian music industry had grown in the recent years because of the quality of music being produced.
“As a bank, we have seen how Zambian music has grown in the recent years and it is because of the quality type of music that is being produced,” noted Lubamba.
This year’s festival will be held on Friday, October 5, and Saturday, October 6 in Lusaka at the Polo Grounds.
Tickets are still on sale and are pegged at K500 (standard); K1,500 (VIP), as well as K2,000 (golden circle).
