Ndirande Anglican Voices debuted at Jacaranda Cultural Centre (JCC) in Blantyre on Thursday night in a tribute concert to the late Vice President Saulos Chilima and eight others, who died in a tragic plane crash in Chikangawa Forest in Mzimba District recently.
The renowned gospel outfit, fresh from another tribute concert at Mibawa Multipurpose Hall in Blantyre, performed at the Sounds of Malawi Acoustic Session, where they shared the stage with Jacaranda School for Orphans Troupe and Keturah, who was a surprise act on the night.
The concert, which attracted an impressive audience, gave the audience another surprise package in David Banda, son to Madonna, who starred with Ndirande Anglican Voices, having been invited to the stage by the group’s lead singer Dennis Kalimbe.
Having performed a number of songs with a few remaining, Kalimbe invited to the stage David Banda to perform together the title track of their seventh album ‘Ndimamvetsera Kumwamba’, with Keturah joining in.
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“I have just been told by the host that in the building we have Madonna’s son, David. Let me invite him to come forward so that we perform together,” Kalimbe said.
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Before that, David had joined the audience to dance to one of Ndirande Anglican Voices’ songs.
His joining Ndirande Anglican Voices, which also closed the curtain on the night, turned out to be a perfect moment for David, who had to sing along to ‘Ndimamvetsera Kumwamba’ as well as follow some of the group’s dance steps.
Kalimbe was amazed with the way David carried himself in performing with them and he admired his voice, which he controlled well.
“I am impressed, his voice is so good and the way he is controlling it,” he said.
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After the song, David attempted to leave the stage but Kalimbe asked him to remain until the gospel group signed off.
Apart from being a tribute concert, the show acted as a platform for music celebration ahead of World Music Day on Friday.
Ndirande Anglican Voices, which recently launched Ndimamvetsera Kumwamba album in Blantyre and Lilongwe and is set to launch it in Mzuzu in September this year, pulled up a proper performance as the headliners and won the hearts of the people.
“We did not have enough time but we are happy with the response from the audience. We enjoyed every moment and having David Banda on stage also made things exciting,” he said.
Kalimbe said it was important for them to perform in order to grieve with the families who lost their loved ones.
“Music heals and, so, we had to come and grieve with the families,” he said.
Earlier on, Jacaranda School for Orphans Troupe opened the performances during the show hosted by ethno-musician Waliko Makhala before they paved the way for Local Girl – Keturah.
JCC Director Luc Deschamps described the tribute concert as a success and that it celebrated the lives of the nine fallen people including Chilima and at the same time celebrated World Music Day.
“We had to do this tribute concert to honour the nine fallen people including Saulos Chilima and also celebrate World Music Day,” Deschamps said.
JCC postponed Sounds of Malawi Acoustic Session last week Thursday because of the tragic loss of the nine patriots but decided to bring in a tribute to celebrate their lives.
In another development, Candlelight memorial events continued in honour of Chilima and eight others, with another one taking place in Mchinji District.
The event was wrapped with gospel songs with artists such as Jetu in attendance.
