Happy birthday Mr Entertainer!
I am not a teacher. I am not a soldier. I am not a manager. I am just an entertainer.” This is a tagline used in the 1980s to introduce entertainment events organised by Jai Banda, aka Mr Entertainer.
The Malawi music promotion space is incomplete without mentioning Jai. This was clearly evident last Friday night when musicians and music lovers descended on Motel Paradise in Blantyre to celebrate his birthday.
Patrons jived through the night with a repertoire of local and international songs.
Saul Chembezi reminded people of his prime in music when he dished out Flames ndi Moto to crown his rendition of songs by Peter Tosh, Lionel Richie and Burma Boy, among others.
With a spirited performance, the Mibawa Band proved their prowess.
But things took a more local turn when Zembani Band took to the stage. The antics of Mr Zembani, son of the band’s founder Lucius Banda, Johnny, brought the house on fire as he played some of his father’s songs.
It got more emotional when Lucius took to the stage. Patrons requested that Johnny returns on stage to perform the song he composed after Lucius was imprisoned during the reign of President Bingu wa Mutharika.
“It has been wonderful performing at Jai’s birthday. I first got in touch with him in 1989 when I was warming up the stage of for Alleluia Band. I was only 19, but he encouraged me that I had a future in music,” said Lucius in an interview.
“Today, Jai is more than a music promoter, but a brother. “Every time I am in Blantyre for my dialysis sessions, Jai is always there with me.”
When some sections of the public thought MacDonald Mlaka Maliro is a spent force in live performances following a botched show that went viral, he was driven to prove patrons wrong. With his songs like Chikhwaya cha Mangochi and Mama, patrons were taken down memory lane.
The climax for his set was when his wife Bernadette joined him in song and dance for Kamandidutsadutsa.
The night also saw the Black Missionaries, Anthony Makondetsa, Nepman, Sam Smack and the Rockers Band perform.
“It has been a great night. This year, we decided to take it to the ghetto where we have been heavily supported,” said Jai.
Jai is renowned for working with many Malawian artists, and organised events like Phungweee and Reggae by foot.
