Lulu comes of age
The renowned local music urban musician, Lawrence Khwisa, but popularly known as Lulu, launched his fifth album Mwayenela to a raucous reception at an almost full Bingu International Conference Centre (Bicc) auditorium in Lilongwe on Sunday night.
Among the audience were members of the diplomatic community and representatives of the corporate world.
The curtains were raised at 8:30pm, revealing Mathumela Band with the main man himself on the lead guitar and main vocals.
The raising of the curtains revealed him as a silhouette as the lights were yet to be adjusted for people to make out the young man in his green pants and a blue long sleeve shirt.
Lulu opened the stage with Zikukanika Bwanji Kukhululuka which was followed Taima Taima, both songs from his previous albums, prompting the eager fans to sing along and whistle as their patience finally yielded to joy emanating from the rhythm and lyrics of the music they have grown to associated with.
The youthful producer took time to show the patrons that he was not only a singer, but a musician we well as he showed his guitar skills, vocals and also dancing skills when he did some moonwalk dance imitating legendary King of Pope Michael Jackson.
Among other tracks, Lulu played Honey from the new album, the first part of the song was being a guitar solo by the musician with an easy and constant beat of the drum before the rest of the band followed with their instruments.
Either the lyrics in the song are so easy or just appealing so much that the audience in the auditorium could not resist, but start singing along where they could pick the words.
Andrew Mashanda, Standard Bank chief executive officer, as the guest of honour during the event, said that his bank is pleased to be associated with the promotion of arts across Africa as evidenced by the bank’s support of other initiatives such as Joy of Jazz where the bank invites jazz artists in various countries across Africa.
After Lulu bowed out of stage came Edgar and Davis who also thrilled the patrons to the last minute.
One of the patrons McMillan Chisale said that he was satisfied with the performance of Lulu, but expressed concern that the artist did not play a lot of music from the new album.
