Mibawa Café never sleeps

Zinthu zikakoma zofunika kumayamikira, goes an Edgar ndi Davis’ song which was also played at Mibawa Café in Blantyre on Saturday as the duo roped in Giddes Chalamanda and son Cliss for a performance aimed at proving that they are still a force to reckon with in the industry.

The show opened with the Edgar ndi Davis’ Band which did not disappoint with their performance of classic covers.

Edgar and Davis’ performance of the hit song Energy Saver drove patron to wonder where the duo finds time to master the choreography for their performances considering their busy law professions.

Giddes made a dramatic entrance with his English opening speech which took the audience in bliss laughter.

“In music I was born but if I was to die I will not music again,” said the affable octogenarian.

Before the patrons could recover from the laughter cramps, before the tears of laughter could dry, Giddes took them on an ecstatic journey with a highly energetic performance for a man his age.

Cliss Chalamanda proved he is the chip that fell from the old block as he played the guitar for his dad’s songs such as Ndinalota bamboo anga atamwalira and Line mwana wa Nzeru.

Cliss also harmoniously backed his father’s songs.

Mibawa Café has a different audience from most venues in the country.

Feedback is what separates Mibawa Café from other venues as the patrons’ appreciation of music and their response is reciprocal to the artists’ levels of energy and quality of performance.

However, at most times, the Mibawa Café audience is a sit and listen type of audience

After a standing ovation, the audience never got back to their seats so you wonder what these artists are made of.

On Friday, the new Mibawa Band also played at their home and the performance was unbelievable. The ensemble was complete with variations in their vocals. One could confuse their live performance for lip-synching.

Jane Banda, who was patron at the Friday show, and was one of the contestants at the recently ended Sunbird Search for a Star competition, said the band is doing a good job.

“This band is awesome, much as I would say other band members that left the group were individually great, but this band as a team rocks,” she said.