Secular meets gospel in Blantyre fiesta
Art is a powerful magnet that can pull two opposing forces together for a common cause.
This was evident on Sunday when gospel and secular musicians shared the stage during a poetry show held at Blantyre Cultural Centre (BCC).
Defining the audience has also proved to be one of the complex topics in the country’s entertainment circles.
There was no definite audience for a particular work of art, be gospel or secular music, as patrons were surprised at how the audience reacted to both gospel and secular performances.
The highlight of the day was how the audience consumed arts with different messages with ease.
As their spirits were engulfed by the gospel tunes from Joseph Chirwa, Eliza Mponya, Ndirande’s New Living Gospel Church (Neligo) Women’s Choir and Ronald Thamakela, they were later treated to Chilawe Changachi by Black Nina.
Indeed, the mood of the same audience, which had previously been in praise and worship mode, was was suddenly activated into a dancing mode.
Smaks took the audience through a love and brokenhearted lane with his two tracks Ukawale and Ulanda.
However, it was Mr. Jokes who stole the day with his thirst-quenching comedies that mostly rapped ‘men of God’ who are fond of preaching in English before local audience.
There is a significant shift in the way Mr. Jokes is approaching comedy these days. His performance was bilingual-mixing Chichewa and English to to the surprise of the audience.
Dubbed Nthukutira Ya Ndakatulo, the event also saw emerging poets sharing the stage with established artists such as Sylivester Kalizang’oma, Samuel Joseph, Huson Chamasowa, Frank ‘Atcheya’ Naligonje, Raphael Sitima and Yohane Pangani.
Kalizang’oma said the event and will be turned into a company for the promotion of poetry.
