Gospel fans from all walks of life came in large numbers to fill Machinjiri Township’s Ayoba Compound Hall on Sunday during the album launch of Amazing Joy Choir’s Anzanga Tiyeni.
At least for Sunday, Ayoba Compound Hall made headlines because it proved to be small to handle the huge audience.
their performance
Over 20 choirs, including established gospel musicians Ethel Kamwendo-Banda, Thocco Katimba and Limbani Simenti, showed up to cement Amazing Joy Choir’s potential as gospel crowd-pullers.
The organisers were ecstatic with the turn up of the gospel musicians who rarely perform in townships—preferring instead to stick to the script by performing at Robin’s Park, Comesa Hall and Blantyre Cultural Centre (BCC) where they are assured of reasonable patronage.
“We are really appreciative with the coming of Katimba, Kamwendo and Simenti to support the launch because fans were doubtful that they could show up. As you can see, people have extremely enjoyed their performances. We need such kind of interaction and support in gospel music,” said Lyson Nyimba, director of Amazing Joy Choir.
He described the launch as beyond the expectations of the choir.
The overwhelmed audience at Ayoba Hall could be seen interacting and taking selfies with established gospel musicians.
“I am really excited for meeting Ethel Kamwendo today because I have never met her face-to-face,” said a Chirimba-based patron only identified as Angella.
Another gospel fan, Tereza Likupe, described the visit by the renowned gospel musicians to Machinjiri as thrilling.
To live up to the expectations of their fans, Katimba, Simenti and Kamwendo dished out spirited performances that moved the audience.
The main acts of the day—Amazing Joy Choir—also put up a scintillating performance to prove their strength as another force to reckon with on the country’s harmonic bloc.
The choir did not only display its choral prowess, but also a stunning choreography which left fans begging for more. Worthy mentioning was the group’s kwasa kwasa skill which was delivered effortlessly and created pomp.
