Wednesday, June 20, 2007

THE MORE I LEARN...

It is amazing how true Malawi's former leader Kamuzu Banda said when he proclaimed that "learning never stops'. The more I learn about God, life, people, music the more I realise I have a long way to go..... and the more I see my ignorance!
I was talking about music and musicians with this good friend of mine who likes to be anonymous on my blog. She questioned the originality of some of Malawi's gospel artists. My take was it is hard to be original in the early stages of one's career...but as you grow, an identity is established.
When I was learning creative writing, I emulated mainly greats like Catherine Cookson and PG Wodehouse. As I continue learning the guitar, my main inspiration has been my uncle Don Mlenga, a jazz guitarist. But the sounds I produce are from what I pick up from Eric Paliani one of my mentors now in South Africa, and international artists such as Earl Klugh, Paul Jackson Junior, George Benson, Jonathan Butler and Lee Ritenour.
Jazzman

Each song I play never misses some sound I heard from this eminent guitarists, but as I grow in music I believe I will be able to have my own trademark sounds.Joe3


Man is an interesting creature, that pretends to the extreme. The heart of man...so deceitful! The scripture is Psalm 121..that 'My help comes from the Lord'...has never been so true to me. When you ask man to do something they will disappoint you, or they will backbite and gossip...in short they will disappoint you. But when you ask God, there is no disappointment, and it's all neat!!

Friday, June 08, 2007

Sanjika Praise and Worship

Yesterday, pentecostal churches went to Sanjika Palace in Blantyre to pay their last respects to the late First Lady Madame Ethel Mutharika. From two to four pm, the funeral hall at Sanjika Palace was filled with singing and clapping hands that characterise praise and worship in pentecostal churches. Praise and Worship was what the visit turned out to be. Almost all the pentecostal church leaders in Blantyre were there. Apostles Stanley Ndovie, Madalitso Mbewe, Felix Zalimba and Timothy Khoviwa came, and so did Bishop Geoffrey Matoga, Pastor Augustine Mgala, Pastor Zacc Kawalala, Bishop Mark Kambalazaza.
Apostle Mbewe was director of ceremonies. Apostle Ndovie read from 2 Corinthians 5: 1-10. George Mkandawire sang a great lamentation which was a medley with his current hit "Ulendo". Then it was singing and singing for the next hour and half.
The mood in the funeral hall changed to one of celebration as the songs rang out. At some point people stood, hands raised in worship, and the bereaved family too could be seen clapping and singing. God was in there!
Sam Maliza, that's the name the Malawi gospel music sector should watch out for. The lad can sing and he sang yesterday. When he took over the microphone to lead the session, the atmosphere changed..the spirit of heaviness departed and there was vibrancy and an uplift in the room.
I enjoyed the praise and worship..it was special to me, for Mrs Mutharika was not ordinary person to me..she was dignified and kind...and special!!
It was a good time and one of the military officials in charge in the funeral hall bore testimony saying: "We thank God for the wonderful time. Those that are of opposing view have a problem"
We left at four pm and with huge queues still snaking to the palace for viewing of the late Ethel Mutharika.