Joyful Souls hit ‘varsities with free concerts
Local acapella sensation Joyful Souls will on Sunday afternoon storm Chancellor College Great Hall where they are expected to hold a free show, the first of its kind since the group’s inception almost a decade ago.
The Chanco show is said to be the first of the performances the group has outlined at the country’s top universities.
Confirming the development on Wednesday, the group’s vocalist Arthur Chidothe said next on their plans will be the Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (Luanar), and the Kamuzu College of Nursing before touring the north where Mzuzu University will take centre stage.
The group will perform at Luanar and KCN in June while Mzuni will get its dose in August.
“But I have to say that we are not conducting these shows in consecutive weekends. Actually, the programme spans out to about September by which time we will have covered the targeted institutions. We should be communicating on the actual dates in due course but the Chanco one is confirmed,” he explained.
Joyful Souls’ move to host free shows in the country’s top university colleges follows, according to Chidothe, the group’s resolve to take the gospel to “even those enclosed in schools”.
“Most times, singing groups perform at almost same and similar venues mostly in the urban areas which we felt ignores those who fail to make it there. We are targeting them because we believe they form part of those people who are from various parts of the country who cannot make it to cities where we normally conduct our shows; hence we thought of sharing this joy we have in song of praises,” he said.
And unlike with most public shows where performers partner other support artists to help attract crowds, Joyful Souls maintains that they will be the sole group performing at all the designated venues.
Chidothe added: “Basically, the shows have been designed to offer our audience a chance to interact with us on a personal basis sort of and this is why we didn’t want to divert their focus on us by inviting other supporting artists. These will be day- long praise and worship services where glorious melodies will reign. We want to replicate heaven itself at these colleges.”
The group claims it had been their lifelong dream to hold free public shows only that the high costs incurred in hiring halls, equipment and on publicity had been hindering it so far.
But these should not be a problem again now they have their own equipment and transport.
The group says they have been encouraged by the respective colleges’ demands; calling the charges for their venues as reasonable.
