Hands off my wife—Mlaka
When musician-cum-pastor McDonald Mlaka Maliro went on stage at Mibawa Multipurpose Hall in Blantyre on Saturday night, he gave a ‘lecture’ on how live music performance should be conducted.
But it was his speech defending his wife during the event that took-centre stage.
“Whatever you have heard, it is just a lie. But time is coming, I will react. I will tell the world the truth. If you touch my wife, you touch me. And I will come for you,” he said as he introduced his wife Bernadette to the audience.
He added that when some people fail to get what they want, they start fabricating lies, saying that one day he will reveal the truth behind everything.
Mlaka was apparently reacting to allegations made by the ECG Jesus Nation Church on Wednesday that he abandoned his role as pastor because of reported disciplinary issues involving his wife.
The statement issued by ECG Jesus Nation reads in part: “There were disciplinary issues involving Pastor Mlaka’s wife and she was summoned to appear before church directors. After noting the details of disciplinary issues his wife was summoned for, he decided to step down.”
On the entertainment front, the musician gave a scintillating performance backed by the Lilongwe-based Rolling Sounds.
The three-hour performance monitored on Mibawa Television was probably one of the longest sets ever on the channel with short breaks.
Mlaka opened his set with a gospel tune Hossana followed by Chinsalu Cha Mkachisi. Then he performed Udzithokoza then Vinyo Watha with patrons demanding an encore of the latter. The artist also sang Samalani Banja and Nkhanga Zaona. He also performed various songs from all his previous albums such as Gologolo Pa Mtengo, Dzanja Lalemba and Maloto, among others. In total, the musician performed his new release Vinyo Watha five times due to public demand.
It was, however, obvious that his voice became strained as he performed his fourth song. Despite the challenge, he rose up to the occasion with ease on stage, interactions with fans and dancing antics. He exhibited superior skills on stage, reminding everyone that he has the experience for live performances. The sound output was great and so were the backing vocalists.
When his wife joined him on stage, she performed two songs Yahwe and Palibe Wa Ngwiro, a song about marriages, which she did with Mlaka.
“I wrote this song with my husband. You know, in marriage there is no one who is perfect,” said Mlaka’s wife Bernadette.
She later joined two other backing vocalists who were supporting her husband on stage.
At the end of the set, they were joined by their son Kenneth, who did a cover of South Africa’s popular song Kwela originally done by Mafikizolo and Hugh Masekela.
“Let me apologise to you my fans. My voice was a little bit strained tonight. It has been eight years since I last went on stage. But things will get better I promise,” he said.
Mlaka also disclosed that he has a new show lined up in Blantyre at Comesa Hall.
“Then we will storm Lilongwe at Bingu International Convention Centre as well as Lilongwe Golf Club,” he added.
In between his performance, he and his wife reminded parents with children under the age of five to take them for a polio vaccine. The immunisation campaign rolls out today. As Mlaka and Rolling Sounds Band signed out at around 11pm, it was clear that this was not an ordinary performance, but a lecture on how live performances ought to be conducted. And on social media, Mibawa recorded the highest number of viewers on its social media pages.
