On a night when the commercial city of Blantyre was pregnant with a number of happenings including Jamaican Everton Blenders’ showdown at Mibawa Multipurpose Hall and Onesimus’ act at Stakeout at Amaryllis Hotel, Ndirande Anglican Voices held its debut listening session for its seventh album Ndimamvetsera Kumwamba at Sunbird Mount Soche Hotel.
It was a Saturday night that attracted a few people that were invited but they gave the gospel group massive support throughout, with the highest contributor pledging K2 million.
Hosted by the lively MC Gome, the listening session delayed to start but this did not dampen the spirits of the audience that longed to listen to the songs and it included legislator Chipiliro Mpinganjira.
Once Stevie Wazisomo Muliya, whose gospel music progression is owed to his bond with Ndirande Anglican Voices, took off to warm up the stage, it was a non-stop ride.
Muliya, who also used his set to announce that he would be launching his new album on New Year, backed by Nthambi Band, served a few numbers including ‘Chisomo Chake Nchokwanira’, a track in which he featured Ndirande Anglican Voices but he performed it alone.
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His routine was followed by dinner which prepared the audience for a listening session of five songs off Ndimamvetsera Kumwamba album.
Apart from ‘Ndimamvetsera Kumwamba’, which dragged people to the dance floor and compelled them to sing along, the other songs that people sampled included ‘Ndinu Woyera’, a praise and worship piece, ‘Lero Lino’, ‘Paulo’ and ‘Usalisinthe Dzina’ before the audience was given a chance to make their commentaries and make contributions to support the album, which hits the market today.
The group appreciated the audience’s support.
“We are overwhelmed by the support that people have given us. Some people buried us but God makes a way wherever there is no way. We never imagined that people would contribute to the album with funds as high as K2 million. We are speechless,” the group’s lead vocalist Dennis Kalimbe said.
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Augustine Ndilowe, who pledged K2 million and is the one, who supported organisation of the listening session, said Ndirande Anglican Voices has put in a lot of energy in the album.
“It is a masterpiece for sure. The group is growing and the album is good. Again, they gave us a perfect treat tonight,” Ndilowe said.
Other notable people who made huge contributions during the listening session included musician Born Richie, famed for the track ‘Lingakome’, Fredrick Changaya and Sydney Chikoti.
Despite being a listening session, the event also gave an opportunity to the audience to cough money and request for other songs from their previous albums which Kalimbe and crew performed.
The album, to be launched later, was recorded at Umi Wangu Records by Kalimbe and then M Studios by Steve Meleka.
Ndirande Anglican Voices started in 1999 before debuting with Ndasayina in 2001.
The other collections are Tiyeni Tonse, Mulungu Amatikondera, Ndasamba Mmanja, Zimandikwanira and Namondwe Tonthola.
