At exactly 3.08 pm on Friday, the Air Malawi flight from Johannesburg touched down at Chileka International Airport in Malawi’s commercial city, Blantyre, bringing in the continent’s high perching South African songstress Zahara.
She performs at the Bingu International Conference Centre  in the Capital, Lilongwe, on Saturday.
As the plane’s engines toned down, the excitement of having Zahara in the Warm Heart of Africa grew, adding wood to an already fierce fire of expectation.
‘I won’t disappoint’
Radiant as a flower, tucked among her six band members and a man running management affairs, she tirelessly smiled back to a cheerful crew and fans, pronouncing a boiling display of Saturday where she shares the stage with internationally acclaimed Malawian musician Wambali Mkandawire.
“I am just so excited to be here because it’s my first time to be in Malawi. I have heard about Malawi and the great people of Malawi.
“I can’t wait for tomorrow for the show. I know probably the people know about my songs and everything but then I expect more because when it’s me on stage with my mic and my guitar, it’s different. Now I get to see the people. I can’t wait.
“The reception when I was off the flight was beautiful. Thank you very much for inviting me. I know I won’t disappoint,” she declared.
Zahara said she jumped at the opportunity to come to Malawi “because it’s Africa; it’s my home.
“It doesn’t matter where I get invited to—as long as it’s Africa, I won’t think twice,” she said.
‘I am blessed’
Digging into her background, Zahara said the Arabic name “means ‘a blooming flower’ which only booms in the desert. It blooms without water.
“I guess where I come from—the village—and where I am now, it tells you about Zahara, the flower,” she said.
The songstress said from a Christian background, she grew with a mic in her hand from as early as six.
Now, she realises, “things are happening so fast. I am blessed,” she said.
Zahara connected to Lilongwe about an hour later.
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