Music fraternity unfazed by rising Covid-19 cases
Despite coronavirus cases steadily rising in the country, the music fraternity appears to remain steadfast on its resolve to continue hosting live music performances.
Even fans and event organisers seem not moved by the increased prevalence of the global respiratory infection disease, whose numbers as of Tuesday had reached 1265, with 989 of them being active and 16 deaths recorded. On Tuesday alone the country recorded 41 new cases.
This has, however, not deterred music event organisers from planning fresh events some of them scheduled for this weekend while others are slated for end of the month.
Notable among them is a show slated for Club 20 Four 7 in Kameza Blantyre, which is expected to feature Skeffa Chimoto and his Real Sounds Band and new music sensational Wikise and Saul Chembezi and The Vibes Band.
Entertainment powerhouse Entertainers Promotion (EP) has also announced what they are billing as the Utsi Tuluka-We Are Back Concert (Itsanana), scheduled for July 31 at Motel Paradise in Blantyre.
The show is expected to be headlined by Lucius Banda and Zembani Band as well as Black Missionaries Band.
Club 20 Four 7 owner of Macdonald Moyo, in an interview, said the race between financial survival and prevention of Covid-19 has proved to be a difficult combination. He said as the cases increase, they hope that the disease will disappear soon.
“I don’t know why the talk has shifted to endangering people’s lives. Is it because politicians are done with their campaigns?” asked Moyo.
EP director Tonderai Banda said the recent rise in new cases has provided them with a serious homework on whether to proceed with their planned event or not. He said the final decision will be arrived at once they meet their partners.
A music fan from Lilongwe’s Area 23, Linda Mkandawire, said she alongside her friends patronised live music performances while fully aware of the risk, but they cannot do anything because they miss the entertainment.
“Imagine I resist the temptation of going to a show for fear of contracting the disease. The next day I am in a minibus which is equally congested and get to the market which is full of people too. It doesn’t make sense,” she said.
Another fan from Blantyre, Joseph Chisuse said: “At first the disease appeared like a mere fallacy that is why it never bothered to go to the shows. But now the threat is getting real while on the other hand we need some entertainment.”
Linda Kamanga, a Ndirande resident said she goes to the shows because, she needs to relax.
“I work hard and I deserve a break every now and then. On top of that, I think Covid-19 is being blown out of proportion,” she said.
