Ma Blacks rearrange set at Mibawa re-launch

Since the release of Kuyimba 9, their latest album, Black Missionaries’ routine got so monotonous that a keen patron of their shows would guess how their show went without being there.

The Chileka-based band seems to have noticed what was needed—a little spontaneity. That is what they did at the re-launch of Mibawa Café in Blantyre last Saturday.

The Blacks surprised their fans by performing a cover of Achimwene Musalire, a rock song by Gas Machine Head and a rendition of Amalume by Zambia’s Mulemena Boys.

The band could not stop spoiling their fans as they called Young Kay, Barry One and Eunice Mhango on stage to rap on their instrumental. Young Kay rhymed over the instrumental his verses from the song Anankabango while Barry One showed his skills by performing a verse from his song Tandigwire while adding some free-style lines on set. Performing at her old turf, Eunice showed Mibawa what it is missing by rapping and then singing the chorus of Anankabango.

Apart from surprise guest performances, Black Missionaries, performed some songs they usually do not perform such as Udindo and Zaka Zonsezi on top of the usual ones from their Kuyimba series such as Mwala Okanidwa, Timba, Wolakwa Ndani and Mwala Okanidwa.

Soon after condemning xenophobic attacks in South Africa, Black Missionaries hammered the point home by performing Evison Matafale’s Yang’ana Nkhope.

Moda Fumulani heated and set the mood right. Memories of Gift Fumulani were brought back as Moda paid homage to late brother performing cover renditions of his popular songs such as Mphamvu Yake, Mwana wa Mulungu Wafika and Musaotche Moto.

Anthony Makondetsa performed songs like Mbumba za Abraham,Wachikondi Wanga and  Ndilibe Naye Mlandu which hyped the mood at the café.

The show had a sizeable audience—just enough to fit in the Café. But Nde’feyo Entertainment, the new management of the café, ingeniously segmented the market by tagging a high price to the show at K3 500.

In an interview with The Nation, Khumbo Munthali ,director of Nde’feyo Entertainment, said the show was organised to give the place a fresh feel as they have taken over management of events at the café.

“There will not be monotonous shows here. We are going to have variety to make sure our clientele don’t get bored,” said Munthali.