Sir Paul Banda, Alleluya Band reunite

Paul Banda returns to the stage with Alleluya Band to headline the Bwalo la Aluso Festival Awards in Malawi’s capital, Lilongwe, on Saturday.

The veteran gospel singer reunites with the Catholic group he formed 35 years ago when 27 artists will get recognition for outstanding contribution to artistic diversity at the Bingu International Conference Centre (BICC).

Funded by the Norwegian Embassy, the festival, which started with different artistic workshops on Tuesday, has been organised by nine rights-holder associations affiliated to the Copyright Society of Malawi.

“Several artists will perform during the event. Public activities start on Friday at Kamuzu Institute for Sports and it will hit climax on Saturday at the BICC. It is during this event that Paul Banda returns on stage with Alleluya Band,” said Bwalo la Aluso chairperson Andrew Chisamba.

Banda, the father of what came to be known as Balaka music, will use the same stage as the legendary Maria Chidzanja-Nkhoma and urban music poster face Piksy.

“It’s almost 20 years since I last performed with Alleluya. However, we are practising tirelessly to give Malawians the best of us,” said ‘Sir’   Paul, whose hits include Mtendere, Malilime,   Ndidzatamanda Ambuye and Chikondi.

Other activities include poetry recitals by Q Malewezi and Benedicto Okomaatani Malunga.