Police conduct at Luciano Show

The Malawi Police Service in the country has officers that are hardwired to behave with some airs of renitent boorishness. I know so because I have two brothers – like cousins – who are police officers.  

When we were staying together in the same household they were just like any other siblings; respectful to us the elder brothers and all that, but as soon as they completed their training at the Police Training School, their attitude completely and suddenly revolved into something unrecognisable. They surrounded themselves with airs of undeserved authority and everything they wanted to do, they did with unapologetic impunity.

I don’t know what they are taught at that institution in Kanjedza because all over sudden they talk to you in an imposing way and they think you can no longer reason better with them. Just check what happens whenever you meet them and are accusing you of committing an offence be it in the street, markets or on the road, it is a mistake to refer to any piece of legislation to endorse your argument because they will throw you in police cell just to show that you are nothing with your learnt attitude when it comes to dealing with the police. What is strange is that the higher they rise through the ranks, the more sober they get; at least this is what they demonstrate in public.

Lately, apart from this attitude they have now added so many bad apples among them who are the leading instigators in most of the country’s violent armed robberies.

Enough of the opening; the reason I am talking about them today has to do with what I witnessed at Silver Stadium last Saturday when Jamaican international reggae superstar Luciano performed. Being what this artist is, the organisers hired numerous security service providers including our own police officers.

The gate fee for the ‘open stands’ was K8, 000 per head. Considering the country’s economic situation, this was extremely on the higher side and therefore the police officers took advantage. 

The police were supposed to provide security and order by ensuring that the show had no gatecrashers as well as people who would breach peace.

But instead they were busy aiding gate crashing. This is how they were doing it in order to hoodwink the organisers manning the gates.

They would handcuff a few people, accusing them of breaking the law with someone who was already inside the show. Under the pretext that they want the apprehended guys to show them their accomplices inside, they would convince these organisers to let them pass into the show and those that were arrested would be left free once inside after paying K4000.

I know that the police officers are paid an allowance at the end of a show like this one and therefore while we cannot control greed sometimes, it is a shame when you find the police officers using the official apparatus for self enrichment.

Do you wonder why we will always question why our musicians are always toiling in vain? 

This is a good example of how not to engage police officers in events like these ones. But at what expense can this be achieved? I know how unruly patrons to these shows can be sometimes but do we really need to put more police officers to police them further to ensure that everything is orderly?

It is a pity when you consider how much Born African Production spent to bring into the country a music star of a stature of Luciano. He also brought alongside Luciano seven members of the All Nations Band and at least the charges would have alleviated the financial burden the firm suffered to achieve all this.

But well, our police being such champions of this kind of notoriety had a trick up their sleeves and decided to fleece Born African. What happened to an honest Malawi Police Service? Can the Malawi music really depend on the police if it has to achieve any progress at all?

Of course as I earlier indicated that these are just some bad apples, but ... the Police should sober up their hardwired behaviour when it comes to public relations. They always think they can do anything and get away with it. If one tries to reprimand them whenever they are in the act of wrong doing, they always trump up charges in a very vindictive manner and where money is involved, the one who offers them more is always right.

         

Luciano calls for Visa exemption

 

 

The Jamaican music maestro Luciano who performed in the country over the weekend has called for the abolition of a visa requirement for Jamaican nationals that are visisting African countries.

He said this in an exclusive interview with The Daily Times before the show in Lilongwe. 

Talking to Blogger and Malawian Journalist Gregory Gondwe at the Sunbird Capital Hotel in Lilongwe where he was the guest

 

When asked what his impression with Malawi was he said:

“One little concern I have is with the visa. I never expected that Jamaicans would have to pay for a visa to come into an African country. Jamaica is one of the commonwealth countries of the Caribbean so it should really be exempted from this kind of legislative bombardment.”

  

Malawian Journalist Gregory Gondwe with The Luciano
  

Otherwise he said the reception from the Nyabinghi was great as it uplifted his spirits. He said this proves that the Rastafarian spirit is strong in Malawi.

“This was my first impression. And as they say first impression lasts forever,” he said.

 

Greeting fans upon arrival at the Kamuzu International Airport in Lilongwe

Over the years, Luciano says he takes his musical career as a mission that has become a ministry which has grown.

He says he knows a lot of people listening to his works over the years are being able to appreciate consistent with inspiration and message in his music.

“I believe that music is a gift from God and the more you use it to the Honour and Glory of him then he will multiply your blessings,” he said.

Luciano Conquers Malawi - as he performs over 2hrs non-stop

JAH Messenger conquered Malawi

 

Jamaican International Reggae Superstar Luciano whose distinguished performance from the late hours of March 28 to the wee hours of March 29, at times, left all the patrons transfixed agape at the finery at which he executed and showed all that came why he has made his name an international household.

Born 20 October 1964, as Jepther McClymont, despite his age Luciano also executed two of his signature summersaults amidst performance that went with his unbelievable thrilling voice.

 

Born African: The Malawian SA based reggae maestro performing before Luciano

With such a scintillating performance mesmerised fans were spell bound that they didn’t realise where the tracks were coming from but it was clear it was within his albums that include Moving Up, One Way Ticket, After All, Where There Is Life, (1995) Messenger, (1997) Sweep Over My Soul, (1999), A New Day, (2001), Great Controversy, (2001), Serve Jah, (2003), Visions, Serious Times, Jah Words, Child of a King, God Is Greater than Man, Jah Is My Navigator, United States of Africa, Write My Name, Rub-A-Dub Market, The Qabalah Man  and the latest Deliverance.

The line up included more local acts including Sally Nyundo, Soul Raiders, Skeffa Chimoto, Lucius Banda and many more but the Malawian South African based reggae star Born African, real name Nelson Shaba showed why he has come of age.



Luciano came on stage while Born African was performing to assure the fans that he was around and ready

This was perhaps the only reggae musical show after the 1987 Reggae Unite for Africa where various Jamaican artists converged and performed at Kamuzu Stadium, where the musical instruments were emitting crystal Clear sound.



 

Jah Messenger at his best

During performance Luciano acknowledge the same and doffed his hat to sound Engineer, fellow compatriot Jonny B who also came during the Fanton Mojah show at Lilongwe Golf Club a few months ago.

Luciano: Drenched in sweat after a coaster rolling performance that cascaded from late Saturday to early Sunday 

Bucandy Playing first keyboards set, Ricky second keyboards set, Trust playing lead guitar, bassist Angelo, Lumanyo on drums as well as the two ladies, Nomawethu and Mpumi, the backing vocalists, completed the ‘All Nations Band’ which Luciano also praised highly.

Luciano captured with the Backing vocalists from South Africa

The performance that Luciano staged, he said was to prove to all and sundry that he has deep love for Malawi and Africa, stating that he had health complications that failed his planned visit last year and it was not because of Ebola.

Luciano: getting started before taking off the cone hat

Earlier in an interview at his Capital Hotel Luciano said he feared nothing. He said his coming to Africa as well as Malawi is an indication that his is back home amongst ‘relatives’.

“If you must know, I have a house in Gambia and I visit Africa without thinking twice because this is my home,” he said.

The fans that thronged Silver Stadium to see Luciano perfom

Nomawethu and Mpumi: The backing vocalists during the Luciano show

The artiste popularly known as the Jah Messenger who was awarded the Order of Distinction in the rank of Officer on 15 October 2007, in recognition of his contribution to reggae music, said he spreads positive messages.