M
adalitso Band feature documentary titled The Banjo Boys, which tells the story of a local music duo Madalitso Band, will be premiered in London during the Opening Gala of the London Breeze Film Festival.
British-Asian filmmaker Johan Nayar directed the film which tells the journey ofMadalitso Band duo Yobu Maligwa and Yosefe Kalekeni and their encounter with fellow musician Neil Nayar who took them from the streets of Lilongwe to perform around the world, including Glastonbury this summer and they appear on Cerys Matthews’ BBC Radio 6 show.
Their collaboration with Nayar also took them to Zanzibar, Europe and the United States.
In an interview, Nayar said the world premiere in London is an opportunity to give the film visibility.
“Considering that most festivals prefer a premiere, we thought we could take advantage to showcase it to an international audience,” he said.
After the London World Premiere, the team will also premiere the film in Malawi to give local audiences a chance to experience it.
Nayar said the film showcases the roots of Madalitso Band, the journey across borders, especially their tours in Europe and it also focuses on his life.
“The film has been shot in both Malawi and Europe. It’s about the life and journey of the artists, including their families, the joys and struggles they’ve faced and how our paths crossed,” he said.
The premiere is expected to attract members of the Malawi High Commission in London and representatives from the Malawi tourism community.
Co-manager of the band Emmanuel Kamwenje said they have been waiting for the completion of the production and the London premiere.
“We have been waiting for this development and it means a lot because it has been a long time coming. We are mostly happy to share the same with the Malawian audience so that they see the story of the band,” he said.
Kamwenje said while the band has performed mainly on international stages, they hope the documentary will help strengthen their local presence as the story is relatable to the local audience.
The duo also expressed excitement about the film’s release, saying it gives them a chance to share their journey with the world.
Yosefe Kalekeni said the documentary will help to highlight and preserve their musical history.
“This is good because it will put our journey in the spotlight and help preserve our history,” he said.
London Breeze Film Festival was established in 2016 to showcase emerging filmmakers from across the UK, together with award-winning films from around the world. The festival’s categories include feature films, short films.
