Miracle evokes mother’s spirit

The much awaited Miracle Chinga show in Mzuzu left patrons on Sunday with mixed emotions: whether to cry for the departed musician Grace Chinga or celebrate the talent that is her daughter.

To the majority of the audience that filled Squirrels Park, it was easy to celebrate and marvel at the ingenuity of the 18-year-old who has taken up the mission left behind by her mother who died in March.

But for Grace’s mother, Elizabeth, who was present at the venue, it was never easy to celebrate. She shed tears on stage as Miracle performed Chimdalitso, one of Grace’s popular songs, by public demand.

The mood was electrifying and, to some extent, sober during the act. Elizabeth could not hold herself as she came on stage to dance to the the song, joined later by her son Davie Chinga.

Literally, the spirit of Grace reigned, but Elizabeth could dance no longer. She was so overwhelmed with grief that she left the stage weeping. Musicians Ethel Kamwendo-Banda and Gloria Fatch led her backstage to weep in private.

She said: “I saw my daughter [Grace] on stage. I remembered how she used to sing that song. And Miracle did it perfectly. My heart sunk. That is why I shed tears. It is my wish that the girl will continue with the mission started by my daughter.”

The show was the third in three weeks for Miracle, who is promoting her mother’s posthumous album Esther.

She vowed to continue with Grace’s mission as well as composing her own songs to kick-start her solo music career.

One of the patrons, Annie Mwale, said Miracle compensated the fans perfectly for her failed appearance in Mzuzu in July.

However, the show on Sunday was not short of setbacks. Miracle’s uncle, Davie, said it was by God’s grace that they launched the album in the city where they had failed to find a venue on time.

“We found most of the venues we wanted booked. We were stranded to the point that, at the eleventh hour, the owner of this venue offered it at a reduced fee,” he said.

Mzuzu had three shows on the day. Tanzania’s Enock Jonas, who is famous for the song Zunguka, was performing at Sunbird Mzuzu’s Boma Park together with Gwede Gwede Boys and Kamuzu Barracks Gospel Choir whereas Allan Chirwa was performing at Grand Palace Hotel. n