Ma Blacks back on stage

Reggae band Black Missionaries has announced their comeback, following months of inactivity due to the Covid-19 pandemic precautionary measures.

Like all other artists in the country, the outfit has not been performing due to restrictions on public gatherings as a preventive measure towards the spread of the global pandemic.

While there are still over 2 200 active Covid-19 cases in Malawi, Ma Blacks’ manager Ras Ray Harawa said time has come to move on with life.

“Much as we appreciate the fact that the disease is still here, we also must appreciate that artists have got lives to live and responsibilities,” he said.

The band manager said their move is not defiance to government’s Covid-19 preventative measures, but a matter of choosing a better devil between death by hunger and death by the disease.

“From the word go when the government put up measures in March this year, we, artists, religiously followed them and now that Covid-19 situation has started to ease up, we also have decided to follow suit,” said Harawa in an interview.

He said Black Missionaries Band will be holding shows bearing in mind that Covid-19 is not gone.

“All the necessary preventive measures will be followed at all our shows. Not more than 100 fans will be allowed entry at all venues, social distancing will be observed, hand sanitisers and clean water will be available for all to use,” explained Harawa.

He said their return to the stage a fight for survival.

“In all this, government has failed to take care of our welfare as artists,” said Harawa, adding that artists feel abandoned by government.

“Our music greatly contributes to the country’s economic development. Meanwhile, most of us survive on music shows. With no shows, our source of income was cut,” he said.

Ministry of Health spokesperson Joshua Malango told The Nation in an earlier interview that the ministry is always available to advise stakeholders on Covid-19, saying it is not a good idea for musicians to start holding shows.

Black Missionaries’ first show is scheduled for September 25 at Zitherepano in Mangochi. The band has gigs lined up until October end at venues in Zomba, Blantyre, Lilongwe, Nsanje, Balaka, Kasungu, Mzuzu and Mwanza.

Most fans are excited with the news after Harawa announced on Facebook the decision by the reggae band to return to the stage.

While some fans were interested in when and where the shows will start from, some looked at the bigger picture in terms of the entertainment industry in the country.

Harry Makoloma responded to the post saying: “That’s better we missed live music.”