Set It Off Festival returns this weekend
Dusty Orange Projects Et Al (DOPE Malawi) has announced the return of its women-led festival, Set It Off, under the theme ‘Women Are Professionals, Not Muses.’
This one-day free festival, organized in collaboration with the EU Film Festival and hosted by LUANAR NRC Campus, located in the outskirts of Lilongwe in commemoration of African Women’s Month, celebrates women’s leadership, creativity, and innovation across Malawi and Africa.
Taking place just 10 days before Malawi’s national elections, the festival will spark neutral, forward-looking conversations on women’s roles in national and community leadership, culture, arts, and the economy.
Inspired by the Lake of Starts Malawi Arts Festival, Set It Off, which was last year held at LUANAR Bunda Campus builds on DOPE Malawi’s longstanding commitment to championing arts, culture, and sustainable development, while connecting Malawi to the global audiences and creating platforms for women and youth leadership.
Organizers say it aims to create a neutral platform for forward-looking conversations on women’s roles in leadership and national development.
“Set It Off is more than a festival, it is a movement to showcase women’s talent based on merit, not tokenism. Women are not objects! They are professionals who are claiming their rightful place in the creative industry,” DOPE Malawi Production Coordinator, Tionge Angella Banda, said.
She added; “Our goal is to inspire young people to reimagine leadership, amplify women’s rights, and drive lasting change, while celebrating our talents.”
The festival includes film screenings and discussions followed by panels on women leadership; workshops and masterclasses covering entrepreneurship, fashion, film, media, and storytelling, led by accomplished women; exhibitions and networking with female-led organizations showcasing innovation, resources, and opportunities; and live performances.
The program will open with two powerful EU Film Festival Screenings: Strike a Blow and Die, a story about John Chilembwe by award-winning Malawian filmmaker Shemu Joyah followed by Mrobinson, a portrait of Ireland’s first female president by acclaimed Irish filmmaker Aoife Kelleher. Both films will set the stage for engaging discussions and thought-provoking debates.
The afternoon will be ignited with performances celebrating women in music and the arts, featuring an electrifying line-up including the Big Five Band, Tiya Joan, Britt Cee, DJ Bubblegum, Sife MW, Dee Satha, and many more remarkable female talents.
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