Old vs new at Ngumuya’s commemoration show

Allan Ngumuya will turn back the hands of time when he commemorates the 30th anniversary of his music career in Lilongwe on Sunday.

During the show at Sheaffer Marquee, the veteran will share the stage with a new breed of gospel singers comprising Great Angels Choir, George Mkandawire and Kelvin Sato.

In an interview on Tuesday, Ngumuya said the observance will give fans a chance to buy complete packs of the 16 albums released during his long-drawn career which began with the recording of Chikondi Cha Mulungu at Baptist Studios in Blantyre.

“This is to pay homage to my music career which started with the album produced by Fletcher Kaiya 30 years ago. As part of the commemoration, I will auction 20 sets of my albums, giving people a chance to get a full picture of my music career,” said the US-trained musician.

And the narrow cast is not just homage to how things used to be done when he was just a beginner, with such acts as Paul Banda’s Alleluya Band, the Mhango Salvation Singers and Eliza Kachali-Kaunda’s Katawa Singers touring without starting artists.

He reckons gospel artists are cheapening themselves and giving fans a raw deal by performing in flocks as it happens during Sunday concerts and album launches which have become common nowadays.

“I believe people pay gate fees to enjoy quality time with the main artist. If you bring 10 or more artists performing five minutes each, it is stealing,” said Ngumuya, who is vying for Blantyre City South parliamentary seat in next year’s polls.

He also supports the view that frequent shows make the artists predictable, commonplace and cheap.

The launch of Misonzi album in 1994 made him the first musician to unveil a studio production at a concert.

Presently, he is fashioning his 17th album Mavuto Akadzatha at Ralph Records which is expected to be out in December, a timely Christmas gift for his followers.