Zimbabwe’s Mokoomba ready to light up Lake of Stars Malawi festival
Mokoomba, a Zimbabwean afro-fusion music group, which is among the headliners at this year’s Lake of Stars (LoS), has promised fireworks at the international festival to be held in Malawi this weekend.
The six-member Harare act is expected to arrive in Malawi on Friday, September 25, ahead of its performance on Saturday at the three-day beach fest at Sunbird Nkopola Lodge in the lakeshore district of Mangochi.
“We are excited to be one of the headliners and look forward to coming back to Malawi after ourperformance at the Lake of Stars 2010,” the group’s manager Marcus Gora told Malawian journalists in an exclusive interview in Harare.
“We’re more than ready. The festival is full of energy therefore we’re preparing a very energetic [and] nice show for Malawi. There will be a lot of dancing and people will have a lot of fun,” Gora promised.
Mokoomba, who have performed in over sixty countries across the world, have since described the LoS as one of the best festivals they have been to.
“Lake of Stars is one of the best festivals we have been to. The atmosphere is marvelous and the show is well organized,” stated Mokoomba’s manager.
Gora, who was joined by four members of the band during the interview by three Malawian reporters, disclosed that Mokoomba were also looking forward to meeting and connecting with Malawian artists.
Gora said the group was open to collaborating with Malawian artists since “there’s a strong relationship” between the two countries with “something common” in the music they do.
“We’re always open to collabos; it’s just a matter of timing and availability,” indicated Gora as he mentioned Lucius Banda, Peter Mawanga, Mafilika, Body Mind & Soul, Street Rat and the Black Missionaries among the few Malawian musicians they have listened to.
The Lake of Stars sent reporters to interview Mokoomba in Harare ahead of their trip to the Warm Heart of Africa, courtesy of the Malawian Airways.
While in Zimbabwe, the journalists had an opportunity to watch Mokoomba perform live at the Pablos VIP in Harare and their spirited performance demonstrated how the youthful artists were geared for their set at the LoS.
Originating from the Victoria Falls, Mokoomba comprise of lead vocalist Matthias Muzaza,bassist Abundance Mutori, drummer Coster Moyo, keyboardist Macdonald Moyo, lead guitarist Trust Samende and percussionist Miti Mugande.
A band which has been together for more than 11 years, Mokoombarecords its music mostly in minority Zimbabwe languages namely Tonga, Luvale and Nyanja.
The group recorded its first album “Kweseka-Drifting Ahead” and the hit single “Messe Messe”, produced in collaboration with Dutch DJ GregorSaltoin 2009.
In 2011 Mokoomba and Gregor Salto released an EP titled “Umvundla” and in 2012 the group launched its second album “Rising Tide”. They are currently working on their yet-to-be-titledthird album.
“We will perform some of the new material from the upcoming album at the Lake of Stars,” revealed the group.
Mokoomba have been to Malawi three times; in 2008 for the Music Crossroads Inter-regional competition which they won, the LoS in 2010 and the Blantyre Arts Festival in 2013.
At the LoS this year, they are expected to share the stage with other international acts as well as local artists such as South Africa’s Uhuru and Toya Delazy, Nigeria’s Ric Hassani, Scottish Young Fathers, Malawi’s Lucius Banda, Lulu, Gwamba, Sangie and Lawi, among the many on the lineup.
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