Morgan Heritage pulls a karaoke, booed

It was billed to be the best year-ender, but it was far from that. They did not live up to their own promise of providing fans with a wild, wicked and wacky show. The bar was high, too lofty, towering above what they offered because Morgan Heritage travelled all the way from Jamaica with a CD.

Malawians are now used to watching live performances, with a full band. But not Morgan Heritage. It was a CD throughout, with fans treated to beats and pieces of songs, as the trio could not go beyond the first chorus.

The fans were irritated, such that some had to leave just after the first song that the three members who came to Malawi as the multi platinum reggae band—Mojo, Gramps and Peetah—had finished.

They had simply lost the plot; they were adrift with some fans barely five minutes on stage.

This was a sad ending of a day that started on a high note. When gates of Silver Stadium opened at 10 am, hordes of merrymakers were already patiently waiting and they slowly snaked in before lying on the greens with optimistic faces.

From Blantyre, Mulanje, Karonga, Mzuzu, Mangochi, Salima, Zomba—actually, from all over Malawi. But that was not the furthest the fans had come. Others drove from Mozambique, Zambia and Zimbabwe for the reggae band that has caused a sensation since 1994.

Inside the stadium, black, red, yellow, gold and green colours were the norm in form of caps, tees, jackets and trousers.

There were sharp guttural chants true to the Nyahbingi movement with a collage of Haile Sellassie posters, Marcus Garvey and colourful Rastafarian flags with the symbolic Lion of Judah almost at every corner.

Covered in a cloud of marijuana smoke, reggae music blaring in the background, the fans huddled to praise and dance in the name of Jah. Even those that do not believe in Rastafarianism joined and enjoyed the harmony and were clad in their best Rastafarai regalia just to be relevant to the occasion. It was a meeting of Emperors and Empresses.

Back to the business of the day, at around 6 pm, the show had started, with Sally Nyundo opening the event.

The Ras Amadya Nzimbe star entertained the fans until he left the stage for Soul Raiders. Both these acts left fans wanting more as they put one of their best shows.

When it comes to the big time, the Black Missionaries never fail to impress. The Chileka boys were in a class of their own.

You could tell from the smiles on the patrons’ faces that they enjoying every moment of the show. And so was the band. Even Paul Chokani, who is always buried in his drums and rarely grins, had a toothy smile throughout the two hours that the Blacks took hold of destiny.

With Born Afrikan, the man behind the show, on stage, the awaited moment was drawing closer and the mood was fast becoming eclectic.

Born Afrikan once again proved that he is arguably Malawi’s top reggae export as his kind of music brings in diversity.

But when he left the stage, there was silence.

But the fans patiently waited for almost two hours until MC, Kenzo B came on stage and announced that he has both bad and good news to the fans.

“The whole band, I mean Morgan Heritage did not travel, that’s the bad news. The good news is that those that made it are coming on stage,” he said.

But for many, that did not make sense at all as what they wanted was Morgan Heritage on stage.

Finally, Peetah, Gramps and Mojo appeared on stage sounding their Strictly Roots anthem.

In unison, the fans screamed in excitement with others rushing closer to the stage for a closer look.

Even those seated in the terraces, the reality was simply irresistible as many of them stood up, raising their arms in the air.

Don’t Haffi Dread was the first song on the menu, but it was cut short, by design of course, as the trio delved into the second song.

Meanwhile, some fans were visibly angry, shouting unpalatables as to why the group was using a CD. Those who could not handle it walked out of Silver Stadium—a mere four minutes and five seconds into the show.

That was just the beginning as in the middle of the third song, things turned worse as the song just got cut.

That was met with strong boos from the audience, while others resorted to throwing empty beer bottles on the sound control stage. Security moved in swiftly to quell the situation to allow the show to continue.

By the time the group finished performing their one hour and thirty minutes set, a sizeable chunk of the audience had left in protest.

“Why should I pay K10, 000 to listen to a CD which I do every day at home? What is the difference?” fumed some of the fans.

“Why did they not use Born Afrikan’s band like Luciano did?” wondered Daud Suleman.

Dejected and disappointed as the fans trekked out of the stadium, the discussion was how Morgan Heritage travelled all the way from Jamaica with a CD and not a full band as is the tradition.

“We have been duped,” “this is a flop,” “this is Cashgate,” were some of the sentiments heard as the fans walked out of the venue.

Chez Ntemba was the solace for some of the nocturnal minds while others headed home.