Blessings Concert captivates gospel music fans

For the past few years, Lilongwe has been hosting gospel shows featuring various international artists from different countries.

However, the Blessings Gospel Concert has proved to be one of the best, according to organisers.

Lilongwe gospel music fanatics patronised the event on Saturday at Bingu International Convention Centre.

The gospel show, organised by Jacob Events, featured South African gospel songbird Rebecca Malope as a headliner, Abel Chungu from Zambia, Coflixe from Uganda and Malawi’s Kondwani Chirwa and The Great Angels Choir.

However, it was evident people were anticipating Rebecca Malope’s performance. The gospel artist has been entertaining fans for decades with her gospel music.

Zambian Abel Chungu, who is also a darling to many Malawians, was equally highly anticipated.

When the South African award-winning singer took to the stage at 11: 28pm, patrons rose from their seats, screaming and jumping.

Together with her band, Malope, who is known as the queen of gospel music, dressed in a South African Zulu traditional attire, performed various hit songs to the adoration of patrons.

She sang songs from her various albums for an hour which drew people to the dance floor.

“I just want to encourage you that God is with you no matter what you are going through.

“I have promised myself that I will praise His name with my whole heart because I know I have so many Rebbecas around the world to raise,” said the songstress in the thick of her performance.

She also disclosed to the audience that Rebecca is Just her stage name as her real name is Batsogile Lovederia  Malope.

During her performance, Malope went down to the VIP section and walked to Prophet Shepherd Bushiri who later joined her on stage.

She later performed Look at me Lord, which is said to be Prophet Bushiri’s favourite song.

Taking his turn, Chungu also mesmerised the audience by singing some of his famous songs like Extra Time.

The Zambian star surprised the audience by bringing Malawian artists such as Suffix, Wendy Harawa and Kelly Kay on stage performing collaborations with them including the popular song Katatu.

Other performances came from Kondwani Chirwa, The Great Angels Choir, Wendy Harawa, Colifixe from Uganda and the Children’s Choir.

In random interviews after the show, patrons indicated satisfaction with the event.

“It was a good event and I enjoyed it with my family and friends. I enjoyed watching local artists, and of course Rebecca Malope as we loved watching her on television growing up,” said Mercy Mwale, from area 47.

On her part, Wendy Harawa did not hide her excitement for the show’s success.

“We are happy to see God being with us and seeing people coming through this was God at work,” she said.