Malawi band wins Music Crossroads contest S. Africa
Malawi’s flag carrier’s in this year’s Southern Africa Music Crossroads contest, Conquerors Band have emerged winners after outclassing other contestants to become a fourth group from the country to win the championship.
The Lilongwe-based band represented Malawi in a three-day competition held in Maputo Mozambique between February 16th and 19th and managed to beat other musical groupings from Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Zambia and Tanzania
According to national coordinator for Music Crossroads Malawi chapter, Mathews Mfune, the Conquerors band won themselves a tour to Europe for emerging champions and was followed by Zimbabwe and Mozambique as second and third runners-up respectively.
“It’s a wonderful experience for the band as well as for the nation. This is the fourth time for Malawi to win the championship and it’s the only country in the competition to have won it four times. There are excitement and good feelings among the band members. They put up a god performance and it was not surprising to have emerged winners,” Mfune explained in an interview.
Mfune said the band will leave for the European tour between May and June this year where among other things, will have several performances as well as music trainings.
The Conquerors followed the foot steps set by Tikhu Vibrations, Conga Vibes, Mafilika and Body, Mind and Soul bands who have once won the Music Crossroads championship.
The band ended the three-year drought the country experienced when it failed to win the mantle in the contest. The last time Malawi won was in 2007 in Zimbabwe when it was represented by Body, Mind and Soul band of Mzuzu.
“This clearly shows how Music Crossroads is benefiting local artists especially the youth. It is helping to identify and sharpen music skills in up and coming artists and expose them to international competitions and performances where they learn one or tow things in their career,” Mfune added.
Music Crossroads Southern Africa (MCSA) was initiated in 1995 by Jeunesses Musicale International (JMI) the world’s largest youth and music network and since has involved more than 28,000 musicians aged 18-25 years, reaching more than 600,000 audiences.
MCSA program encompasses festivals, workshops, training, but also competition. Malawi joined it in 1998 and ever since has been one of the forces making big impact and has hosted it two times.
Some of local products of Music Crossroads include the Part of Life singing sensation Dan Lufani, dance-hall lady icon Wendy Harawa, Khumbo and Toinge Hango.
Follow and Subscribe Nyasa TV :
