All set for Evison Matafale memorial
The 17th edition of the late Evison Matafale memorial will be held on Sunday at Civo Ground, Gadaga, Chileka in Blantyre where several acts including Black Missionaries, Anthony Makondetsa and other Chileka siblings will perform.
Matafale, who formed and led Black Missionaries died on November 27 2001 while in police custody following his arrest after authoring what was considered seditious material.
With November 27 falling on a Wednesday this year, the memorial was pushed to Sunday.
The annual memorial show has since it started attracted huge audiences.
Blacks’ lead vocalist, Anjiru Fumulani, said Thursday all was set for the memorial show on Sunday and that they were ready to celebrate the life of Matafale.
“Evison Matafale’s legacy still lives on. The mission he started still continues. He always preached peace and this is the message that we have always preached as Black Missionaries and this year, we are also talking about the same,” Anjiru said.
Due to the current political situation, the country has experienced violence.
“Let us love one another and preach peace. We are all one. So, we call upon people to come in large numbers as usual and celebrate the lives of Evison Matafale, Gift Fumulani, Musamude Fumulani and other fallen artists. We also call upon them to refrain from violence.
We are thankful that the past years, the memorial has run well without violence,” he said.
Matafale rose to fame and became one of the country’s favourite musicians by the year 2000 through the release of his debut album Kuimba 1 in 1999.
Matafale was known as ‘the prophet’ in the country and was seen as an elder in the community of Malawian Rastafarians.
Black Missionaries has continued the mission that Matafale started releasing Kuimba albums up to 11th collection.
They have, however, been criticised in some instances for failing to replicate the roots reggae that Matafale and Musamude orchestrated.
Blacks has won the hearts of many people with their live performances.
However, they still have more room for improvement as observed by some of their followers that their live acts need enriching to give people surprises as for now, their routines are predictable.
Anjiru said people will be in for a treat as there are several artists set to perform and as we went to press yesterday, they had not yet finalised the line-up.
“We have a big line-up such that we have not yet finalised it. But just to share some, we have Young Generations, Ndindi Marley, Saint, Frank Kaunda, Lambanie Dube and then we have the team from Chileka including us and Anthony Makondetsa, Yanjanani Chumbu, Moda Fumulani and Khozie Masimbe,” he said.
Lambanie Dube formerly known as Limbani Banda, who also performed at the memorial show last year, said he was happy to be part of the performers this year.
“It is all about celebrating the lives of Evison Matafale and other fallen artists. This is also a platform where we unite as artists and preach peace and love,”Dube said.
Meanwhile Wailing Brothers which has members such as Lion Paw and brothers Takudziwani and Paul Chokani, who used to star with Blacks, have dropped a single titled ‘We Miss Matafale’. The song is part of an album, the group is working on.
