Bands unite for Kuimba 9 launch
Several groups have been lined up for the Black Missionaries’ Kuimba 9launch at the Robin’s Park in Blantyre Friday night and the Lilongwe Golf Club on Sunday.
As the Chileka group launches their seventh album since the death of their mentor Evison Matafale, Lucius Banda and his Zembani Band, Sally Nyundo and Run Tingz Band, Police Orchestra and acoustic maestro Snowden Ibu join the Blacks and other Chileka artists: Anthony Makondetsa, Konzie Masimbe, Toza Kapito, Yanjanani Chumbu and Moda Fumulani.
Black Missionaries bandleader Anjiru Fumulani said the fun does not end there, as Zambian hip hop artist B1, real name Bruce Simbalangwa, is on tour as well. For one, B1 is renowned for his Single Ladies tune.
“We bring different genres to the launch so that patrons enjoy to the maximum. Besides, a Kuimba 9 CD awaits each patron. It is the people who will judge the direction the band is taking,” said Fumulani.
The Malawi launch comes after the group took the album to South Africa in April. It coincides with the coming back of music retailer OG Issa who is reported to have opened shop again.
In an earlier interview, Fumulani had indicated the distributor’s quitting would affect their marketing, especially for tapes. However, in an interviewon Sunday before a prelaunch performance at Ozone Refreshment Centre in Machinjiri, he said the band had not struck a deal yet with the distributor.
“We have no communication from him that he has reopened the shop. So we are going ahead with our marketing plan, through filling stations, shops, bookshops and other outlets,” he said.
Recorded at Ralph Records, the 13-track album contains Nkhondo, Mama Africa, Wansanje, Absalom, Tabwera, Higher and Kwawo, a song that looks at president Bingu wa Mutharika’s rule. The band also released five singles:Angochimwirabe, Bwenzi Langa, Wokondedwa and two versions of I am Not a Failure.
