Angola Maseko to grace Rastafari annual prayers
South African reggae artist Angola Maseko will on August 4 perform at Robin’s Park in Zomba as part the local Rastafari Movement’s 53rd anniversary commemorations of Emperor Haile Selassie’s visit to Malawi.
Maseko will be the music headline act as part of the annual spiritual prayers at the Emperor’s View on Zomba Mountain. The music lineup will be completed by Zambian Jah B, Black Missionaries Band and Lucius Banda.
Since 2005, the local Rastafari Cultural Event (RCE) has been championing annual prayers to remember August 2 1965, the day Emperor Haile Selassie visited Malawi, which remains special among members of the community.
This year, activities marking the day will run for two days. According to the organisers, there will be prayers on August 4 at the Emperor’s View from 9.30am, then a fundraising reggae concert at Robin’s Park from 9 pm and finally, Talent and Art Exhibition at Gymkhana Club on August 5.
The event’s coordinator Dread Nasolo said proceeds from the fundraising event will go towards construction of a Rastafari Shrine at the Emperor’s View which they say has received little attention regardless of its monumental status.
He said: “To us, the visit by Haile Salassie meant everything. Not just politically, but the message he delivered on the day was a rallying call on us the youth to take responsibilities with courage.
“So the RCE is a moving vehicle which is used to remind all including fellow rastas, government officials and private sector players on the importance of this day. It pains us that the place looks deserted now.”
Through a video clip posted on social media, Angola Maseko confirmed his visit to Malawi in a message which he wove in a mixture of English and some lines of Chichewa.
He said: “Greetings in the name of the Most High Jah Rastafari I the first. The conquering Lion of Judah. Angola Maseko is coming again to Malawi. The original and only one will be there again rocking.
“Muli bwanji, muli bwanji a Malawi? The shows start on August 4. Tizakhala tili ku Zomba, Lilongwe ndi Salima. Tizakhala tikuyimba kumeneku. Come in great numbers, come in thousands to see I and I performing.”
This will be the third time for the musician, who rose to fame with his 1990 hit, We Are Going Forward,to perform in Malawi.
His last visit was in 2001 when he came alongside fellow reggae artists Sipho Johnson popularly known as Jambo and Angie Gumbi also known as sister Angie.
