Floods fundraiser shakes Lilongwe

Secular and gospel artists on Sunday shook the Lilongwe Golf Club when they jointly held a show to raise funds for flood victims.

The show, which was organised by the artists themselves, proved a success as it was patronised by a huge turnout that included British High Commissioner Michael Nevin and his wife Sawako, as well as his counterparts from Zambia and Tanzania.

By noon, an impressive crowd had already thronged the venue and even the heavens felt for the victims, as the azure skies assured patrons of no likelihood of rains.

First to perform were gospel artists such as Marvellous Deeds, Peter Uyu Mlangeni, Great Angels Choir, POV and KBG Soldiers, whose performances appealed to the mostly secular crowd who sang and danced along.

While the ground was slowly proving to be too small for the fans, as both the young and the old kept trooping in, secular artists took turns to entertain fans.

Skeffa Chimoto and his Real Sounds took the first slot, giving their usual business of not just singing, but offering a performance worth watching.

Dan Lu and Sally Nyundo all followed suit before the Black Missionaries invaded the stage for a dosage of non-stop reggae.

Even a few technical hitches that generally characterised the event could not compel the patrons to boo or complain. They were patient, perhaps understanding that they were at the venue for a good cause.

Lucius Banda, who co-organised the show, was next with his Zembani Band. Dance is the central element of the Balaka band and surely, the fans got more than they bargained for.

“I am happy you have come out in large numbers. But I am not happy that it did not rain today,” said the artist before being interjected with jeers.

“I would have loved if it rained so that we should have a feel of what our brothers and sisters who got soaked in the rain for days went through,” he continued before the patrons burst into cheers and excitement.

Before Soldier took a bow, he called for Skeffa, Lulu, Wendy and Malawi’s star on the saxophone Dan Sibale for a performance of Ndimitimaya Chikondi, a song the artists have jointly done for the flood victims. The fans were awestruck, so taken with the song that they listened intently while a few shook their bodies to the nice and soothing tune.