Music lovers on Saturday night flocked to Illusionz Club in Lilongwe to celebrate Malawi’s 60th Independence anniversary.
Dubbed ‘Celebrating 60 years of Independence’, the show featured standout performances by McLuther, the veteran duo Edgar ndi Davis as well as Patience Namadingo. They turned the evening into a memorable tribute to the nation’s past and future.
Before performances started, the host of the event, Anne Matumbi set the atmosphere with a request for the audience to pay their respects to the late ‘Soldier’ Lucius Banda, a music icon who died on June 30 while receiving treatment in South Africa.
During the show, this tribute was an ongoing reminder of the recent losses that have affected Malawians across the country.
Kicking off the night, McLuther captured the audience’s attention with his smooth jazz and blues, creating an atmosphere of soulful serenity.
His performance was a soothing foundation for the evening, as it was chilly during
Edgar ndi Davis, whose local tunes brought out a sense of nostalgia as they performed hits such as Wazelezeka,Njinga Yanga,Musamabwere Kumudzi and Fanuwelo, taking patrons back to the golden days of Malawian music.
The duo also took a moment to honour the fellow lawyer the late Ralph Kasambara and ‘Soldier’ Lucius Banda, emphasising the significant losses their passing represents.
Soon after the duo’s set, Namadingo jumped on stage. His set included a touching tribute to ‘Soldier’ Lucius Banda and others who have recently died.
Patrons sang and danced along as he played other tracks, including Mbili, Pefekiti, Nge and Wazgolenge.
He dedicated his single Tikamadzapita to the memory of the iconic individuals that the fallen Kasambara and ‘Soldier’ were.
The crowd could be seen enjoying the soulful melodies without wanting the show to come to an end.
But everything must eventually come to an end and at precisely 2am, the Maury hitmaker bowed out of the stage, leaving fans yearning for more.
Despite the late hour, the energy remained high as DJs took over to keep the party going.
In an interview after the event, Edgar Kachere of the iconic duo Edgar ndi Davis expressed gratitude for the opportunity to perform during such a significant time.
“It is a time that we are still mourning. However, this was a huge opportunity which has allowed us to pay respects to our fallen heroes in style as we look back at the 60 years of independence for our country,” he said.
Kachere also emphasised the importance of reflection and positive action.
“Every one of us has a role to play. To my fellow artists, I say don’t give up, but always look for ways to improve and be of positive impact,” he said, urging Malawians to contribute positively to the country’s future,” he said. One of the patrons, Victor Mwale, said: “Hoisting our flag led us to remembering those that laid their lives for our nation’s freedom. Not only did we commemorate the self-rule, but also the great works of our youthful democrats like the late Lucius Banda, Ralph Kasambara, and Saulos Chilima who contributed greatly in various sectors. May the spirit of independence bring positivity and progress to our country,” he said.
