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Passing the baton

 

On the Malawian music scene, one figure that has remained a constant over the past three decades is Jai Banda, alias Mr Entertainer.

Over the years, Jai is best remembered for the Azisiya song, which has become the de facto anthem of the Malawi national team.

And that is the song that catapulted Jai to the limelight and has moulded him to be what he is now.

Over the years, Jai has been running Entertainers Promotions, one of the oldest music promotion companies in Malawi, dealing in the organisation of musical shows for both local and international artists.

This is Jai’s baby which he has nurtured and seen grow over the years.

Tonderai at work helping mount the stage
Tonderai at work helping mount the stage

But all good things must come to an end and so the curtain has fallen on Mr. Entertainer as he has retired.

“It’s long overdue actually, I think by the end of the year my son Tonderai will be fully fledged,” said Jai.

“For 26 years, I have worked so hard for Entertainers and I want it to continue long after I am gone. My journey has been long and hard. I have had good times and I have had bad times. I have derived so much happiness and thrill when I make thousands of people happy. I derive so much pleasure from that,” he added.

From humble beginnings, Jai says he has survived through sheer hard work.

“Combined with my taxing job as a lawyer, it has not been easy. From the days of Reggae by Foot to now when I have arguably one of the best music equipment in the country, I have seen it all. It was difficult when I started as I did not have money.

“I had to hire equipment, transport and at same time I used to depend on gate takings to pay artists. When the show was a flop I would face the wrath of the artists. Since I loved what I was doing, I sojourned on, knowing one day I would make a breakthrough.

“My last show at the Lilongwe Golf Club in May when I was launching my mobile stage is testimony of the faith entertainment goers have in me. A record crowd converged and I was even surprised. Even P-Square could not match that crowd,” he boasted.

For close to 30 years, Jai has invested millions of money into music equipment.

“I would estimate over K70 million ($118,910) and the stage I have built costs K20 million ($33,974.4), but all this has been acquired over years. All this has been the passion I have for Malawian artists that is my driving force,” he says.

His journey has not been spared of challenges, mostly with the same people whose interest he is promoting.

“Working with artists has been a challenge as most of them always want to be pampered. They do not understand the difference between capital and profit. They want all. It has also been difficult to get them to be professional in terms of time keeping, dressing for the stage among others.

“The challenge in the beginning was also of being accepted as both a lawyer and an entertainer. People have always been asking how I manage to balance the two. With the emergence of many lawyers on the entertainment scene such as Edgar ndi Davis and Ambokile Salimu, people have accepted it can be done,” he said.

“As for Tonderai, I have so much trust in him; he will deliver and take Entertainers to greater heights. He has the passion and has grown up seeing what his dad has been doing. And being a University graduate in IT, this will bring a whole new dimension to Entertainers. Fans have noticed the changes already like the big screens when we launched the stage and putting our shows live on YouTube. He is the next big thing, so watch out,” said an enthusiastic Jai.

While his father is making sure the son is well equipped to stand on his own before finally taking a bow, Tonderai has so far warmed the hearts of entertainment fans. If the Sound and Light Concert in Salima two months ago is anything to go by, Entertainers Promotions lives for the event, was a precursor of all Malawi’s music festival along the lake.

From the organisation to coordination and choice of performers, Tonderai showed his prowess and better understanding of the Malawi music scene.

“It is exciting at the same time challenging as I am taking over from someone who has been in this business for a long time. He has raised the bar so high so I must live up to that and go beyond. But I must admit, so far, so good,” said Tonderai.

Added the soft spoken second born child added: “I am not under pressure as I have started on a good. The response from the fans is so encouraging and getting so much support from my father. I just have to be more creative.”

Since his taking over of Entertainers Promotions, there have been three shows that have taken place under. The first was the Sound and Light show in Lilongwe, Independence Gala in Blantyre and the Sound and Light concert in Salima.

“Every show is improving. We had one projector screen at the Lilongwe Golf Club, but in Salima we had two. Every time I am coming up with new ideas because I don’t want people to see the same stuff over time,” he mused.

Once known as Ton Don on Joy Radio, he started playing music at a tender age. All his life, Tonderai wanted to become a DJ.

“So while young, I would DJ at private parties and events. Later on, I established the High Density Records which produced hits such as Traffic Police by the late Vic Marley as well as Mkazi Wanga by Ma Savage. I later on worked with Joy Radio on part time basis, presenting programmes. But I have been in music industry for a long time, 16 years to be precise,” said Tonderai who turns 29 on December 4.

The past nine years have seen him out of Malawi music scene as he concentrated on education and his dream is to take Malawi music to another level.

“I would want to further promote Malawi shows to international level. My goal is to have local musicians to collaborate with big names across the globe. I have learnt a lot from my dad who is a self-motivated, strongest soldier I have ever seen. He has lost some battles, won some,” he said. n

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