Khwidzi Choir to perform in Blantyre for the first time
SALIMA–based group Khwidzi Choir will perform in Blantyre for the first time since its formation in 2002.
The group, which made headlines in 2009 after releasing its debut album titled Thupi Lovulala before going silent, arrives in Blantyre today and will hold performances and engage in other activities before going back to Salima on Monday.
Khwidzi Choir, which is under Malowa CCAP, has 35 members ranging from the ages of six years to 40.
“Some of the members are not active but the group is dominated by women, we have 21 women and 14 men. The secret behind the group is that we work with children and this is one way of teaching them the word of God whilst young,” said the groups music director Steven Singano.
He said they have been holding performances in other areas since releasing Thupi Lovulala but have never had a performance in Blantyre. “We are happy to have a chance to perform in Blantyre through a partnership with Ndirande Kachere CCAP Singers.
As a group our plans are to reach out to more people. We have had funding problems since releasing our debut album. Piracy also affected us as people pirated the DVD of our album,” said Singano.
He said as a group they have been receiving invitations to perform in different gospel concerts but they have failed to make it due to the protocols they have to go through in the CCAP Nkhoma Synod.
The group’s 13-year old Prisca Stephano, who has been leading in most of the songs and started performing when he was nine years, said the Blantyre tour, will give them a chance to perform to a different audience but also announce their second coming with their second album titled Iza Wolema.
“At first we wanted to name this second album Ndadza Kuyika Thupi Lake as a follow up to the previous album but we changed it to Idza Wolema to give respect to one of our members who passed away. She was nine years old and led one of the songs,” said Stephano.
Some of the songs in the group’s second album include ‘Nsembe Yanga,’’Zonse Kumwamba,’ ‘Chitani Mbuye,’ ‘Yesu Mfumu,’ and ‘Ndatopa Nawe.’ Ndirande Kachere CCAP Singers Secretary Chimwemwe Malisuku said they decided to build a relationship with a group from far as part of ministering the word of God. “It’s a relationship which will help in spreading the word of God.
Khwidzi Choir has never had a performance in Blantyre and so this is a chance for people to see them performing live at Ndirande Kachere CCAP. We have a festival on Sunday where several other choirs will perform on Sunday,” said Malisuku.
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