Smooth Groovers, which is made up of teachers from Music Crossroads Malawi Academy in Lilongwe, left the country Wednesday for Uganda, where they will perform at this year’s Bayimba International Festival.
The group, which includes afro-jazz musician Maggie Kadrum, will perform at the 16th edition of the festival today.
Apart from Maggie Kadrum, who is the lead vocalist, the other members are Moses Moshu Shumba (piano and keyboard), Eric Mwalwanda (drums), Stephen Ire Cool Liphesa (bass guitar) and Blessings Nkhoma (guitar).
This is one of the top festivals in Uganda.
Some of the Malawian artists that have starred there include Ben Mankhamba and Zig Zaggers Band.
Apart from Smooth Groovers from Malawi, other acts performing at this year’s edition, which runs from today through to Sunday, include Turbulence from Jamaica, who has also had a stint in Malawi.
Maggie Kadrum said Wednesday before departure that they were set to showcase the beauty of Malawian music.
“We are ready to raise Malawi’s flag. We are going there not to make up the numbers but to show that Malawi has a rich culture,” the ‘Nkhwiza’ creator said.
Music Crossroads Malawi Director Mathews Mfune said Wednesday that they were leading by example.
“We are not only theorising but doing and showing people how to do it. This is a statement that the world trusts us and that we, as an academy, will not disappoint but represent Malawi with all our might,” Mfune said.
The festival presents a multidisciplinary programme of artists from around the world in music, dance, film, fashion, photography, storytelling, theatre and visual arts.
Meanwhile, Mfune has said Music Crossroads Malawi is in a busy week as it is participating in several international programmes including Ethno.
“We have Darius and Josh, who are already in Uganda participating in Ethno Uganda. We also have Anna Chiwalo and Sam Phiri, who are at Ethno Mozambique happening this week,” Mfune said
