Veteran musicians Erik Paliani and Ben Mankhamba with The Ziggzaggers Band will next month share the stage at Mabeya’s Pub and Grill in Lilongwe in a show dubbed The Afro Jazz Experience. The concert, to be held on September 7 2024, is set to take people on a journey of what Mankhamba and Paliani have described as “sumptuous” sounds and remind music lovers of their Acacias Band exploits when they used to star together. The show, which will also bring on board Sena Jive star Nyandoro Nthenga of the ‘Wako ndi Wako’ fame, is a follow-up to Mankhamba and Paliani’s 2022 connection, which also saw them coming face-to-face at the Heal the Earth Gathering at Kayesa Creative Centre in Mchinji District.
“This is a rare reunion to show people our Acacias Band memories. Again, we want people to have a good time and appreciate afro jazz,” Paliani, who has starred with top artists such as Hugh Masekela, said. Paliani has been on the move holding jazz workshops as well as performances in a mission aimed at showing music lovers the beauty of jazz.
Mankhamba, who is Village Head Chingalire and manages Chingalire Culture Centre, said he is looking forward to the concert as well as sharing the stage with Paliani and Nyandoro. “I am sure this will not be the end but rather the beginning of more of such outings to come. There are people out there, who fancy afro jazz music and that is what we want to give them,” he said.
Nyandoro was not readily available to give out his comment but he has also been holding performances showcasing Sena jive sounds from Lower Shire. Former broadcaster Gift Mabeya, who heads Mabeya’s Pub and Grill, said they will continue to give people surprises by engaging different artists to appeal to both the young and the old. “We have kept up the music steam in recent times to give people the best of entertainment and the Afro Jazz Experience showdown is just the continuation.
We are ready and we call upon people to come and not miss the three giants,” Mabeya said..
