Malawi’s music scene is hitting back at xenophobic attacks on its citizens in South Africa, with the 2026 Big Yard Summer Jam banning South African beats.
The festival, organized by Black Missionaries Music Company and scheduled for August 29 this year at Nkopola Leisure Centre in Mangochi, will feature only Malawian sounds.
Organisers say the decision is aimed at promoting local artists and responding to the treatment of Malawians across the border.
Event organizer Moses “Selekta Rokaz” Kunsiya told Malawi24 that the DJ booth will exclusively pump local Malawian Amapiano artists, proving to the continent that Malawians don’t need South African music to keep the dancefloor lit.
“For us, the festival isn’t just a summer kickback, it’s a safe space to celebrate our own culture without the soundtrack of our oppressors,” he added.
He said the decision carries a deeper meaning because some of the people expected to attend the festival include Malawians who have returned home after experiencing xenophobic attacks and difficult conditions in South Africa.
Kunsiya described the festival as a safe space where people can celebrate Malawian culture without being reminded of the painful experiences some citizens faced.
The organisers said the sonic boycott isn’t a one-off stunt.
The development comes after similar discussions involving South African artists and Malawian festivals reportedly changed direction amid growing concerns over xenophobia.
South African performers had been considered for the Likoma Island Festival scheduled for October, but those engagements were later discontinued.
