Temptations concert organisers sweating over demonstrations
The organisers of the United States of America (USA) vocal group The Temptations’ concert scheduled for Lilongwe are sweating over the five-day shutdown demonstrations spearheaded by Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC).
The five-day shutdown which is targeting major borders and airports is aimed at forcing Malawi Electoral Commission (Mec) chairperson Jane Ansah to resign. The shutdown is slated for August 26 to 30 2019.
The organisers have since said they are praying that the demonstrations should not affect the concert to be held at Bingu International Convention Centre (BICC) on August 31 2019.
Spokesperson of the event, Mphatso Chaluluka, said yesterday all is set for the concert and that they have since completed everything as regards the flight tickets for the group.
“We have also sorted out the issue of accommodation as well as equipment which we have managed to get from Mibawa,” Chaluluka said.
He said they are still observing the situation.
“If everything goes according to plan then we have no problems but we have looked into the issue of demonstrations and we are discussing on the way forward,” Chaluluka said.
He said Temptations would arrive in South Africa the week after next and they are expected to practice with Afro Stars Band which is based in South Africa.
“They will have rehearsals with Afro Stars in South Africa before flying with them to Malawi on August 29 2019. They will then be engaged in other activities in the country on August 30 before the performance on August 31,” he said.
Chaluluka also said Patience Namadingo is the only curtainraiser for the show.
The concert whose tickets are already on sale would cost K30,000 for regular and K50,000 for VIP.
Asked if the entry fee was not on the higher side, Chaluluka said the entry fee was calculated fairly based on costs.
“The Temptations as a quintet from USA plus the Afro Stars from South Africa are all coming and so that is a big set and this coupled with sound and lighting equipment that is in line with their USA designed technical rider and many other logistics and considering the venue capacity limitation, the fee is just the right one,” Chaluluka said.
Namadingo said yesterday he was ready for the concert and also talked about demonstrations as a threat.
“I am all good to go and pray that demonstrations should not affect the concert,” Patience said.
Africa Global Travel and Tours, who are the ones bringing Temptations, said recently in a statement that they were delighted to host the USA group.
“Bringing The Temptations in Malawi is Africa Global Travel & Tours’ best way of appreciating and rewarding our clients for faithfully supporting the brand since it opened its doors in 2016,” reads the statement.
The Temptations are one of the most successful groups in music history having enjoyed unequalled success with a series of chart-topping hits such as ‘Soul to Soul’ ‘My Girl’, ‘I Can’t Get Next to You’, and ‘Papa was a Rollin Stone’.
