Keturah’s dream comes true

It was all glamour at Amaryllis Hotel in Blantyre on Sunday night when Keturah launched her first self-titled 10-track album, Keturah.

So, when she finally waltzed into the auditorium at 10.23 pm, she knew the hour of her much-anticipated glory had come.

The thunderous applause from the audience reminded the local girl about her fans’ high expectations.

In return, the Afro-jazz musician sang Chimbalame, one of the tracks in her debut album.

It was not a coincidence that she performed Chimbalame first as it embodies her resilient character in an industry where other promising artists failed to realise their dreams. In the song, Keturah likens herself to a powerful bird that cannot be trapped. This captures her music journey perfectly as she has weathered through storms to achieve her dream of recording an album.

Looking composed and jovial, Keturah proceeded to dish out one song after another in the presence of her producer Harlan Steinberger who flew from the United States of America to attend the show.

Among her band members was a Congolese guitarist Jason Tamba, who also played the guitar for her songs in studio in America.

Earlier, he described Keturah as a talented young African artist with a promising future in the music industry.

“I feel honoured to play the guitar for Keturah. To me, music is good because it unites people of different races and backgrounds,” he said.

In his introduction of Keturah, Jacaranda Cultural Centre director Luc Dischamps, who facilitated the artist’s journey to America to record her album, said he did so to help her realise her potential.

“Keturah is amazing. She has talent. That is why we supported her dream to produce an album,” he said.

Before the main performance by Keturah, Lawi, Jason Tamba, Ndamera and Lucky Stars Band and Waliko Makhala curtain-raised the event.