When music lovers, after a long course of being overlooked, turn up for shows in good numbers, it must be a verdict on the artists that, in this instance, they have been getting it wrong all along.
In a way, this can be said of Soldier Lucius Banda and Zembani Music Company, on one hand, and The Black Missionaries, on the other, who during the weekend took the road less travelled: Performing in rural areas, in the districts of Mulanje and Balaka, respectively.
For the Chileka-based Black Missionaries, Balaka’s Mulambe Motel was the centre of call, where they performed to an impressive audience Friday evening.
This could be because it is not every weekend that the band plays in Balaka— a district known for its own version of reggae.
From the nest of Balaka reggae, artists such as Charles Sinetre have emerged and mesmerised the country with pure reggae beats such as ‘Rock with Me’. He remains the Reggae Ambassador, albeit a reggae ambassador on mute.
In the end, Balaka reggae merged with Chileka reggae, as preached by the Black Missionaries, to attract an impressive audience.
Reggae wins, that should have been the theme.
As The Black Missionaries set for the road to Balaka, Zembani Music Company, from Balaka, first turned to Blantyre for a performance at Mibawa Multi-Purpose Hall on Friday.
It is only on Saturday that they turned rural, travelling to the border district of Mulanje for a date with patrons at SmallVille from 8 pm.
Armed with, not weapons but, human talent, Soldier Lucius Banda, Nepman, Sam Smack, Lambanie Dube had no choice but to impress the impressive audience.
It is just unfortunate that, in both Mulanje and Balaka, the shows did not end with the refrain: Zimatere zimatere/ Bwezi zikoma!
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