Kenyan Grammy Award-winning musician Bien-Aimé Alusa Baraza, a member of Sauti Sol, will headline this year’s Kumbali Live Music Concert scheduled for October 24 in Lilongwe, organisers have said.
Bien will perform alongside Malawian artists Driemo, Praise Umali and Maggie Kadrum at the fourth edition of the concert, which Standard Bank Plc is sponsoring under its Joy of the Arts platform.
The event’s co-producer George Kalukusha said this year’s edition will introduce a second stage to create opportunities for artists who do not often get platforms to perform.
He said the additional stage will feature upcoming musicians, including Sangwani Kaunda, Isabel King and Nathaniel Chaluchalu to give the line-up diversity.
“Patrons should expect good sound and curated live sets. This is an experience for music lovers and those ready to enjoy music in all its forms. We feature ethno music, hip hop, Soul, jazz, Afrobeat and contemporary as anchor sounds for the event,” Kalukusha said.
Event organiser and coordinator Ian D’heygere said the concert has grown into an important platform for showcasing local talent alongside international performers.
He said that financial support from Standard Bank has been instrumental in sustaining the concert and its contribution to the local creative industry.
“We are particularly proud that, over the years, the Kumbali Music Concert has become a significant platform for celebrating creativity and showcasing authentic Malawian talent and bringing in world-class performances. We are equally grateful for the support from Standard Bank,” said D’hegere, who is also Kumbali general manager.
Standard Bank head of brand and marketing Tamanda Ng’ombe said the Malawi Stock Exchange-listed bank continues to support the concert as part of its initiative to promote Malawi’s arts and culture industries.
“Live at Kumbali has earned its place on Malawi’s calendar and provides a bigger stage for local musicians to perform alongside international stars,” she said.
Ng’ombe said the partnership also reflects the bank’s commitment to developing the country’s creative sector.
“Being the title Sponsor for this event reaffirms our commitment to supporting the creative industry and promoting music,” she said.
Ng’ombe added that the choice of the Kenyan musician and the combination of some of the country’s highly rated musicians is designed to give patrons of the event an unforgettable experience.
The concert’s prices range from K85 000 for standard entry, K95 000 at the door and K250 000 for VIP. Tickets can be purchased through Kwenda.co or by dialling *495#.
Bien launched his solo career in 2019 after establishing himself as a member of Sauti Sol, one of Kenya’s leading Afropop groups. He has since released solo music and built a career as a singer, songwriter and music executive.
He is also a Grammy Award winner for his songwriting contribution to Burna Boy’s album Twice As Tall, which won the Best Global Music Album Award. In 2025, Bien won a Trace Award for Best Artist in Eastern Africa.
