Fun, music, culture meet at Umhlangano fundraising concert

It was a cool and fun-filled Sunday evening at Glalle Garden in Lilongwe when Black Missionaries Band, Anthony Makondetsa and others took turns to entertain patrons during the Umhlangano wa Maseko fundraising concert.

By 8pm, the Chileka-based Black Missionaries Band were in full swing, dishing out their popular songs to the sizeable crowd that braved the cool weather.

They performed songs such as Ndilibe naye Chifukwa, Pobwera Mfumu, Wachikondi and many others.

Anthony Makondetsa also took patrons down memory lane when he performed songs from his old albums and his latest offerings.

His performance was so captivating that Inkosi ya Makhosi Gomani V had no choice but to join him on stage.

After dancing together, Makondetsa thanked the Ngoni Maseko chief for choosing his groupto perform at the event.

“By inviting us to entertain patrons here, it signals that you appreciate the music that we play and we are honoured,” he said.

On his part, Gomani thanked patrons who came to the event to support this year’s annual festival.

“I am a king because of my subjects. Without your support, I am nothing. So, thank you very much for supporting this year’s Umhlangano Festival,” he said.

The fun went on until Monday morning.

This year’s Umhlangano Cultural Festival will take place on September 2 at its traditional venue of Nkolimbo Village, Traditional Authority Kwataine in Ntcheu.

The festival that brings together Maseko Ngonis to celebrate their culture through traditional dances, food and other rites. The festival’s budget is pegged at K70 million. As we went to press, the organisers were yet to disclose how much was realised during the fundraiser.