It was billed as the Sunset in the Warm Heart Concert. The expectation was that as the sun would be setting on the picturesque Game Haven expansive field in Bvumbwe, Thyolo District, people would be enjoying beautiful music melodies.
But it was never meant to be. The programme schedule indicated 6pm as the starting time for performances and a larger part of the audience took to their seats before the stated time.
What many considered as high ticket pricing did not matter at all as the venue was filled to the brim.
But the fun seekers were made to wait for more than four hours before there was any semblance of activity on the stage. First, it was a mixer, which had to be brought in from South Africa after the visiting American team deemed the one in use not fit enough.
Then the audience was told of dysfunctional LED system—and that had people waiting for extra two hours before the problem was sorted.
Acoustic star Agorosso was supposed to perform, but due to the delay in starting time, he was scrapped off the programme. The people’s favourite Namadingo was a last minute addition to the line-up as he stepped in for Lawi who had a bad cough.
But to the disappointment of fans, the Tuli hit-maker never made it to the stage. After hours of waiting for his set which was announced to start at 8pm, Namadingo left the venue at 11pm for his other performance of the night at Club 24/7, where he was the headline act.
“I tried to wait, but I hope everyone will understand. But I need to go and honour my other commitment,” he said as he made his way out with his team.
At exactly 10:20pm, there was life on the stage when Afro-jazz sensation Maggie Kadrum sounded the first melody of the evening. The relief from the exasperated patrons was visible. The feeling was that things were now up and running.
But after her set, which only lasted three songs, the stage went dead again. It was said the system had lost connection with the sound. Another long period of dead air followed.
In a show of anger, the audience in unison stood up to sing the country’s national anthem.
“Mulungu, dalitsani Malawi! musunge mtendele! Gonjetsani adani onse! Kuti tisaopeeeee!” it ended there.
Minutes after midnight, the American R&B artist Brian McKnight appeared on stage. In his cream linen pair of trousers and short-sleeved top, he looked every bit of a superstar. He sensed the frustration the audience had gone through and his mission was to get things right.
It didn’t take him much time. The mood quickly transformed as he did his magic with his super vocal skills and guitar. His renditions of hits such as We Belong Together, Still, 6, 8 12 and the people’s favourite Back at One had the audience watch in utter awe.
When he made his bow, everyone had forgotten of the prolonged hours of waiting they endured.
One patron, Symon Maguru said: “Besides all the setbacks my expectations have been met. Brian McKnight is so legendary.”
