Paliani dazzles at Nkhotakota Music Festival
Malawian jazz star Erik Paliani is living up to his billing as he has flexed his muscle by performing in the countryside in Nkhotakota, unlike in the usual venues in towns and cities.
Just over the weekend, Nkhotakota Cultural Centre became a centre of attraction where this jazz icon soared with his scintillating stage performance.
The dreadlocked-jazz maestro dazzled hungry-for-show fun seekers at a one-day Nkhotakota Music Festival.
His stage presence, coupled with a carefully selected horde of supporting artists made the day memorable.
Before Paliani took to the stage, it was Lilongwe-based up-and-coming Afro pop artist Jako Jana, who mesmerised fans with his four pieces played in a row.
He moved the audience with his carefully crafted lines in I Will Shine song.
As if that was not spicy enough, other main supporting artists for the day, African Fusion and Anne Marie Quinn did more than enough to quench the musical thirst of the audience.
As time ticked to around 5.40pm, Paliani appeared on stage with a two-member band comprising Jay Chiling’oma on bass and Layton Chisuse on drums and dished some of his crème-de-la-crème including Chitukutuku.
Twenty minutes later, renowned saxophonist Dan Sibale came on the stage and sent the already ecstatic audience into complete rapturous mood as evidenced by deafening uproar all over the place.
At the end, Paliani thanked the audience for their large turnout. He said their love for him as well as other artists was phenomenal; a thing every artist yearns for.
“I’m sorry I have to leave you now. Thank you for coming,” said Paliani as fans screamed in protest.
Then Nkhotakota Cultural Centre went into a frenzy again when Code Sangala widely known as CO stormed the scene.
CO begun his performance with an announcement that he was in a fundraising drive dubbed Music against malaria alongside Anne Marie Quinn.
“We are raising funds for children’s ward at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital [QECH]. Our target is K30 million,” he said.
Some of the songs he performed included, Tithana, Chisoso, Mulibwanji, Kumadziore and Ndirande.
Nkhotakota Music Festival manager Tor Rand said patrons to the festival were dazzled as artists lived up to their billing. He said the festival will return next year.
Random interviews after the show showed that fans had gotten what they had anticipated. One of the fans, Christopher Zimba, praised all artists for their phenomenal performance.
“The show was so amazing! I didn’t expect this. I thought Nkhotakota will not accept the legion of artists, but we have seen here; they really dazzled!” he said.
The festival, spearheaded by Nkhotakota Youth Organisation, started in 2014 and is supported by Music Crossroads Malawi among other players.
