Airtel Malawi Brands and Communications Manager, Isabel Kachinjika has said the Airtel Trace Music Star competition is on this year.

The competition came to the limelight last year starting at local level before the grand finale which involved 13 Pan African countries.

“The competition is on this year but we are still agreeing on launch dates and other logistics,” said Kachinjika in an email response on Wednesday.

She said Airtel will be giving out updates once everything is finalised.

On the local level, singer and keyboardist Sam Mjura Mkandawire, who is also a member of Mafilika Band, came first and pocketed K14 million.

Mkandawire went on to fly the country’s flag during the Pan African grand finale which was held in Kenya but he failed to come out top.

The Lilongwe-based singer, who competed with his wife on the local front alongside other contestant made it in the top six.

Tanzania’s Mayunga Andrew Nalimi claimed the top prize.

As the overall winner, Mayunga won a record deal with Universal Music, mentorship from award-winning musician Akon and promotion for a total value exceeding US$500,000.

The Airtel Trace Music Star Pan African grand finale was beamed on DStv’s Trace channel 325.