Low-key homecoming for The Very Best

The Very Best were the very best. That is how superlative the all stars home coming show of the Swedish/Malawi band, The Very Best show was in Lilongwe.

Despite a very low turnout, the band’s upbeat hits were ecstatic, and with Mafilika manning the equipments, the final output was massive. No wonder the afternoon went on to shortly after 7pm.

While many patrons enjoyed their dance pop music, another element that was so captivating were the lyrics; done in Chichewa. Yet this is a band of three members of different nationalities; Malawian, Swede and a Briton.

First on the menu was Adani, sending the patrons into dancing mode after a time of nice but good music with man of the moment Lawi. From that moment on, it was time to dance with Esau Mwamwaya as lead singer, Amos Mlorowa on drums, Ernest Ikwanga on lead guitar, Sam Mkandawire on keyboard and Ephraim Champeta on bass guitar while Johan Hugo was manning the CD player, blasting underground.

From Julia, Come Alive, Yalira, Ghetto to Kadammanja, Superman and Kampopo, the hits came and the sizeable crowd danced. Under the cover of darkness, the people still wanted more fun, and so car lights came in handy as they lit the far end of the Silver Strikers stadium and the gig continued.

Warm Heart of Africa, Get it Up, the famous Yoshua Alikuti, We OK, Kondaine and Magwiragwira were also dished but people still asked for more and more fun. “You have been an amazing crowd. Although few but you are awesome,” shouted Mwamwaya before taking a bow.

“It was an experiment to us to see where we are in Malawi after much focus on the west. The people liked what we were doing and that is important. However, it is disappointing at the same time because the turnout was poor,” explained Johan in an interview.