LAFARGE 'CEMENTS' PREPS FOR STANBIC MUSIC FESTIVAL
Written by Millennium on September 20, 2019
TERENCE MISELO Writes
@SunZambian
As preparations for the much anticipated 2019 Stanbic Music Festival intensify, Lafarge Zambia has announced its support towards the hosting of the event by pumping in K100,000.
Lafarge has joined hands with Stanbic to ensure the show which will be headlined by American Grammy Award-winner Brandy and Afrobeats Nigerian sensation Davido is successful.
The partnership was revealed at a joint media briefing held in Chilanga on Wednesday.
Speaking during the cheque handover, Lafarge Zambia Director of Marketing and Strategy Giovanni Murialdo said the cement manufacturer was happy to be part of the event as it tied in well with Lafarge’s commercial sponsorships policy.
“By co-sponsoring the Stanbic Music Festival it confirms how keen we are to participate in community activities that are bent on uplifting the welfare of our people through art and social development,” he said.
“We are confident that the sponsorship of K100,000 will help promote our local artistes who will also be sharing the stage with the international headliners.”
Mr Murialdo added that Lafarge was proud to see the likes of Mampi, who will be the only local female artistes during this year’s event saying that Lafarge Zambia carried a strong belief in female empowerment.
And Stanbic Bank Zambia Director of Corporate and Investment Banking Helen Lubamba said Lafarge’s support would go a long way in making the event a success.
She said: “We are happy to have Lafarge on board in sponsoring this prestigious event. Your support will go a long way in ensuring we keep our promise of making this year’s event bigger and better than last year’s.
Aside from being the country’s leading company in the construction sector, Lafarge has a long history of promoting and supporting arts in Zambia.
Similarly, the Music Festival is one of the many ways Stanbic gives back to our community and assist with the development of the arts and music in Zambia.”
Since its inception six years ago, the Stanbic Music festival has been graced by several international icons including, Boyz II Men, UB40, Hugh Masekela and Oliver M’tukudzi music legends gone too soon. Mi Casa, Earl Klugh and Zonke as well as a host of top local artistes including gospel RnB sensation Abel Chungu Musuka, contemporary RnB singer K’millian, singer, writer and guitarist James Sakala, Zambia’s hottest Hip Hop sensation Chef 187, the legendary Izrael and electric violinist Caitlin DeVille among several others.
Last year, the festival hosted US based mega stars Brian Mcknight and Joe Thomas.
Ms Lubamba noted that “Over the more than 60 years we have been in Zambia, we have not only played a significant role in driving the country’s growth but have also taken time to understand our customer’s social and cultural needs as well as their way of life.
“As a result, we have supported various traditional ceremonies in many parts of the country while working tirelessly to help preserve Zambia’s culture and unique traditions and arts.
“We believe that the promotion of national culture makes up a greater part of the social growth we’ve been part of since we first came here. Social and cultural events bring people together, strengthens the social fabric of the nation and reinforces the whole essence of culture.
“More than just giving the country and indeed the region something special to look forward to each year, the event presents a unique platform on which our local music talents can perform side by side with renowned international artists and expose Zambian music to the rest of the world.”
The 2019 Stanbic Music festival is scheduled for October 4 and 5 at the Lusaka Polo Club.
