Lucius launches ‘Thank You’ in style
It was a difficult Friday night to tell what was the apex of the show when Lucius Banda launched his 18th coming, Thank You, at Robin’s Park in Blantyre.
Was the climax Lucius sharing the stage with gospel artist Thocco Katimba when they dished Wandimasula, their collabo from the album? It is hard to tell if that outclassed Lucius’ performance of other songs from the album such as Nthungululu, Sagona and the title track, which opened his act. It may well have been his dishing out the songs that have defined his music career spanning two decades, songs like Mabala and Pharaoh.
Or was it when Lulu mesmerised the jam-packed hall with not only his guitar antics and fine tunes, but also rare dancing skills?
Was it when Lambanie Banda reminded patrons of his Chisoni Nkumatenda heydays?
Nepman was equally in form when he dished his anthems, including Na Lero.
Some would also say the climax came at the very end, when the Black Missionaries performed cuts from their ‘kuimba’ trail, including their song of the moment Tizingocheza, off their Kuimba 10, which is scheduled for a launch on Friday. The performance must have been a dress rehearsal for them.
The night was nearly spoiled, nonetheless, by a short power outage, eye-stinging pepper-spray, equipment which misfired at some point and some chaotic scenes as people struggled to enter the venue.
Thank You is a 14-cut collection wrapped in various genres, including reggae, manganje and dancehall, among others. The hits include Walema, which is a supremely dance beat, Rita featuring Zambia’s MC Wabwino, My Love Will Never Fade and his signature spoken word is back in Way Forward. “I would like to thank all the people who have seen me grow this far. The journey has been long and not all rosy,” said Lucius.
