Lucius Banda, Mbenjere excites Chikhwawa in Kafukufuku Arts project

People in Chikhwawa on Saturday had a fair arts retreat as Malawi Liverpool Welcome Trust staged Kafukufuku Arts Festival.

Kafukufuku Arts Festival is one of the events the institution is holding, using arts as a module of simplifying medical and scientific research and procedures for easy understanding by local populace, thereby helping address some of health complications they experience.

The project will encamp issues of HIV and Aids, material mortality, other diseases like Tuberculosis, pneumonia, malaria among others. Information relating to such diseases will be depicted through artistic work for easily understanding by the public.

On Saturday the festival had impressive line-up of veteran secular music artists in the name of Lucius Banda, Lawrence Mbenjere, Agoloso and the blossoming youngster, Kaka.

Lucius Banda: Mesmerised fans

Missing on the menu was Katelele Ching’oma who was reportedly performing in South Africa alongside Skeffa Chimoto and Mafunyeta. But his absence was not felt nor noticed as Banda under Zembani Band banner headlined the performances.

Banda, straight from medical treatment in South Africa a couple of weeks ago, alongside Agoloso, Mbenjere and Kaka put up a summer time show that had left the lower Shire populace in frenzy mood-and hopes are high it will remained a much talked-about show for days to come.

The crowd-both young and old- braved up the scotching heat and for once it was obvious the audience had lost its soul to the sugary sounds by the artists, which usually they listen to on radio.

It was the time, Banda, Mbenjere, Kaka of Ndine Bwana hit-song and the renowned classical folklore music artist, Agoloso performed in person for Chikhwawa people who gladly welcomed the free fun and never resist taking to the floor for a dance.

Chikhwawa hot as it is, but this moment it felt like the crowd had found cooler in the songs of the billed stars. Firstly taking to the stage was Agoloso and with his tantalising guitar plucking skills comforted the hearts that had patiently waited for hours for a glimpse of the performers-as the show had delayed to start.

Agoloso paved way for Mbenjere who took the audience to another stage with Unipatse Mita, and one by one people were seen rushing to the dance floor, dancing in response to the good performance of the Central region king of local music, who did not disappoint at all.

Mbenjere performed several songs including Chiphatso and Sewere before handing over the mic to Kaka who performed Ndine Bwana, but it was late Paul Chaphuka’s Mayi Maria rendition which captured the attention.

Kaka demonstrated that he was not just any other artist trying to make a name in music. He proved why Lucius Banda had to lope him into Zembani band. Kaka mesmerised fans when he started mimicking other artists like San-B, Mlaka Maliro, Billy Kaunda, Skeffa Chimoto, Davie Nsaku.

But it was when he started singing like Lucius Banda and Mkasa that the crowd started jeering in excitement and much to the amazement on how such young artist could ably sound just like other artists with such aptness.

Banda stormed the stage at around 4pm, lifting the spirits with energetic performance that saw him doing several popular tracks like Jacuzzi, Okondeka Wanga among others that captivated the audience that could not resist it but to dance every tune Banda did for them.

Music aside, the Kafukufuku Arts Festival also incorporated comedy by The Judges, the due that mesmerised people its jokes that were tailored to inform people more about the Kafukufuku Arts project.

Malawi Liverpool Welcome Trust has selected artist, Elson Aaron Kambalu as its artist-in-residence who is using his painting to engage rural people in Kafukufuku project through artistic work that is easily understood by the local population.

In an interview, Kambalu said through the project, local are able to narrate health and scientific issues that were rather vague to them.

“Through their own drawing under my assistance, the local people are able to narrate stories in way that is understood by everyone. The basic purpose of the project is to help people understood some of scientific research information that is too technical to them.

“And use art solely created by themselves to address some of the problems they face in their society, problems like lack of proper mode of transport for pregnant women, sanitation issues, some diseases the experience as well as some of problems expectant mother experience,” Kambalu explained.

Kambalu said through the project, he has produced a 30 minute video documentary that will be shown in next arts shows.

During the Saturday show Chikhwawa residence had an opportunity to sample out Kambalu’s artistic work as well as drawings by some selected women and children, which depict their stories.

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