Tonderai seeks his own ground
Tonderai Banda, son to music promoter Jai Banda, is seeking to establish his own brand in entertainment circles.
When Tonderai took over the leadership mantle of Entertainers Promotions from his famous father, revellers expected that him to carry on with Jai’s mission.
Jai’s Entertainers Promotions has been a part and parcel of the Malawian music fibre of the past 30 years, having initially made a mark in the early 1980s with his Reggae by Foot shows.
But speaking in an exclusive interview over the weekend, Tonderai said fans should expect a different approach.
“Fans should not get twisted. I have worn my father’s shoes, but that does not mean I walk like him. I have my own steps although the direction is the same,” said the younger music promoter.
He, however, admitted that he has a huge task to surpass his father’s legacy.
“I just can’t do things exactly the way he was doing because things are changing. And as a youth, sometimes I am required to accommodate issues of the youth in my programming of activities. This is totally a different approach to that of my father,” he said.
Tonderai, who returned from the UK last year to take up the Entertainers Promotions mantle, described his endeavor as beyond entertainment because he is looking at arts as powerful tool transforming lives of the underprivileged as well as empowering young people.
He cited the charity programme as a new component which he has added to the entertainment outfit.
“There are hundreds of reasons why fans should look at me as a different brand because my management is looking beyond issues of entertainment.
“There is a charity programme and youth empowerment initiative that are attached to it. So, that’s me Tonderai,” he said.
He said he believes in the power of charity and youth empowerment as key to fighting the problems Malawi is currently facing.
Commenting on his approach to organising events, he said the Valentine Eve concert slated for this Saturday at Comesa hall in Blantyre, is a game changer.
This weekend, Entertainers Promotions hosts a Valentine’s Day where the legendary ‘Sir’ Paul Banda will perform alongside gospel artists Patience Namadingo and Faith Mussa.
