By Sam Banda Jnr:
Kenyatta Hill, son to reggae maestro Joseph Hill of Culture who conquered the eighth edition of the Sand Music Festival at Sunbird Livingstonia in Salima District on the second day, has said he is used to performing for hours on end.
Kenyatta, who left on Monday, stunned the audience with a lively and classic show that lasted more than three hours.
“I am used to this; so, it’s not new. I could have continued actually,” he said.
Even after his performance, the Jamaican did not go to sleep but kept on interacting with fans on the last day of the festival.
“There is no secret to this, rehearse, work hard in whatever you do, love what you do. To up and coming artists, I say no-one should ever tell you, you can’t do it,” Kenyatta said.
The dreadlocked star, who performed in the country for the second time, left people wordless after he bowed out around 6:30am having jumped on stage at 3am and all they could do was to clap hands in appreciation.
Kenyatta had actually told the press earlier on Saturday that he was ready for the showdown and even requested Lucius Banda, who is the director of Impakt Events; organisers of Sand Music Festival, to allow him perform for more hours.
When he came to Malawi last year for the first time, some quarters wrote him off, saying he was nowhere near his father’s musical muscle but he shined.
And performing at Sand Music Festival for the first time, he continued from where he had left off and this time partying with the people all night until sunrise.
His electric performance reminded the audience of the exploits of another Jamaican musician Busy Signal, who also gave out a non-stop live act at the same festival in 2016.
“I am happy to be back home,” Kenyatta, who speaks just like his late father, said amidst a huge applause.
He came on stage after the audience had also been treated to another explosive performance by Zimbabwean musician Ammara Brown.
Ammara, who left on Sunday, was expected to perform on the opening day of the festival but she arrived late.
Lucius, who was billed to perform on Saturday, filled her space on Friday, with Ammara pushed to Saturday.
A daughter to Zimbabwean icon Andy Brown, the singer made amends for her failure to perform on Saturday as she offered the best.
She was lively throughout her performance and showed the best of her dancing antics.
In one song, Ammara dressed in sexy black attire took time out to show she values instruments when she played the mbira, better known as nsansi in the country.
The climax of her set was when she performed the popular track ‘Akiliz’ which is enjoying airplay in local radio stations and drinking joints.
People sang along to the song before she also played the track ‘Mapulisa’, done by his late father.
The song is popular in the country as it was re-done by Jai Banda and team during the times of the late Bright Livewire Nkhata.
She also offered the song ‘Mukoko’ before bowing out in spectacular fashion stretching her legs to the amazement of the audience.
During her set, Ammara also gave a mobile phone to a young woman, who excelled in dance courtesy of Afro mobile, who made it possible for the musician to come to the country.
Before Kenyatta took to the stage, Lucius made a short speech that included thanking God for a good weather.
“We are thankful to people for the support and again the companies such as Kwese, Sunbird Limited and Castel Malawi,” he said.
Kenyatta said the performance on the second day reminded him of Jamaica where they sing and chant night and day.
Unlike last year when he was accompanied by two original members of Culture and his mother, this time he came with a seven member band from South Africa which included two female backing vocalists.
The two female acts, who warmed the stage before Ricky Tosh came in and then Kenyatta, looked tired after such a long performance but they said later that they are used.
Kenyatta dished out several songs including the famous ‘Two Sevens Clash’, and ‘International Herb’.
Just to show how serious the set was, Kenyatta went on stage whilst putting on a jacket which he later removed then later a shirt remaining with a vest.
He also removed his shoes making it easier for him to run on stage as well as jump.
The musician, who at some point also joined the audience, said there was no retreat no surrender in the show meaning he was going all the way.
In between his performance he also took time out to call for the legalisation of marijuana saying it has an economic importance. He smoked it on stage as well.
“Thank you so much Malawi for your support,” Kenyatta, said.
Earlier the audience which was impressive sampled performances from Lulu, Patience Namadingo, Queen Fyah, Anthony Makondetsa and Black Missionaries.
Lulu, who stayed on with other local acts including Lucius and Wendy Harawa praised Kenyatta.
“I am impressed, this is a great performance and I have enjoyed it really,” he said.
Ammara also watched Kenyatta’s performance after she came off stage.
Random interviews with people, who stayed on even after Kenyatta had gone indicated they were satisfied.
Lawrence Tembo from Lilongwe described Kenyatta’s set as brilliant.
“I don’t know where he got all that energy but he killed it and my money has not gone in the drain. All the artists today (Saturday) performed well only that Kenyatta did more,” Lawrence Tembo from Lilongwe, said.
Chris Aka and Amayenge from Zambia also sparkled on the second day with the main stage known as Booster dominating in performances.
Aka, who used the platform to talk about gender-based violence and early marriages, performed at the festival which started on Friday and ended on Sunday for the second time
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