Alleluya Band off to Panama

One of the country’s music outfits, Alleluya Band will represent Malawi and Africa at this year’s World Youth Day and Music Festival.

Under the theme ‘I am the servant of the Lord,’ the 2019 edition is due to be celebrated from January 22 to 27 in Panama City, Panama.

In a Facebook post, the band announced over the weekend: “We are happy to announce that this year we shall perform at the World Youth Day in Panama, representing Africa and our beautiful country, Malawi. We will leave on 15 January.”

In an interview, veteran musician and one of the longest serving band members, Coss Chiwalo, said the performance will be a continuation of a journey the band has been undertaking for decades.

“To sing life with joy is our motto and we are happy with these trips because we disseminate the word of God all over the world,” he said.

Chiwalo said such trips help the band to fulfil and stand firm in its motto.

“We gain nothing financially but the experience from such trips is of great value,” he said.

Chiwalo said the World Youth Day and Music Festival are two separate activities under one roof.

“As Alleluya Band, we go for both while other delegates are going there just for the World Youth Day, where young people spend time learning from each other as well as praying. The festival is about music and that is where we perform.”

During this year’s festival, Alleluya Band is scheduled to have three performances.

“We have three shows there, but I dont know the dates. As you know, Father Mario Pacifici, the founder of this group (1978) is responsible for all communications,” he said.

This is not the first time Alleluya Band is participating at the World Youth Day and Music Festival.

In 2000, the band went to Rome, Italy. In 2005 it attended the two events in Cologne, Germany, while in 2008 the outfit travelled Sydney, Australia for the same.

In 2011, Alleluya Band went to Madrid, Spain, while in 2014 they went to Brazil and Krakow, Poland in 2017. n