Clash of cultures as Banyana meets Fikisa
They came, conquered hearts with the well-choreographed acts from Zimbabwe and stayed on for tougher tests.
After three months of cameo performances with Malawi’s musicians, Banyana Bafana are at last in for a reality check when they meet Fikisa of Akamwire fame in a mouth-watering show at Mandevu Farm in Machinga on Friday and Steers Garden in Blantyre Saturday afternoon.
According to the visiting artists host Lwazi Mbowa, the weekend sound spar is an “Africa music and dance party†as the visiting crew brings their vigorous patapata and rhumba moves right into the den of the locals who made the Yao tribal beat Kungwe a national anthem.
“With four men and four ladies, Banyana proved their mettle when they shared the stage with Black Missionaries and Lucius Banda lately. This time, they meet Fikisa in an African music and dance tour that celebrates the Malawians and Zimbabwean culture with a difference,†said Mbowa in an interview on Tuesday.
Formed in 2000, the youthful and energetic Zimbabwean group has thrilled audiences dancing to music from big artists such as Alick Macheso, Paul Matavire and Tongai Moyo. On the other hand, Fikisa—comprising Geoffrey Thom and brothers Selemani and Yusuf Saidi—attracted cheers when their Akamwire hit was played at the launch of the ongoing Big Brother TV show in South Africa two months ago. They once performed on the same red-carpet stage with rapper Tay Grin in 2003.
As such, Fikisa’s label—Nyimbo Music Company—reckons the weekend is an opportunity to share notes with their equals from abroad.
“As a band which plays ethno-urban music, the outing with Banyana Bafana is a time to learn and share experiences with our Zimbabwean friends as well as to expose our music to an urban audience,†said Nyimbo president Daud Suleman.
The Zimbabwean group will hold a farewell tour next month, said Mbowa.
