Ivory Coast artist marvels Malawi

Absolutely splendid and marvelous, that is what the audience who watched Ivory Coast female artist Dobet Gnahore perform in Malawi's commercial city of Blantyre on Wednesday night described her.

Dobet was in a class of her on and true to those that stormed French Cultural Centre (FCC) she came, saw the southern African country’s city and conquered.

Malawian artists who watched her took their hats off and had to say “We have a long way to go in music; we need to practice really hard.”

“I have watched several foreign artists play at French Cultural Centre like Angelique Kidjo but this one was superb and he has taught me a lot of lessons,” said local artist Joseph Tembo.

Dobet is a complete musician and she truly showed the audience what music is all about as a singer, dancer, percussionist and drummist among others.

“She is a performer and she was the best on the night. I wish if she was given all the resources to be coming every month then the country’s musicians can learn a lot. Malawian artists have a long journey to match this,” said Chris Walker.

On stage, her voice, charisma and huge presence impressed the audience and this is the result of several years’ of her theatrical and choreographic work.

The artist played non stop music for hours just after Malawi’s female gospel singer Ethel Kamwendo Banda had also offered the audience something.

Kamwendo Banda played his Chichewa tracks ‘Yehova Ndinu Nokha,’ ‘Chiuta Muwemi,’ ‘Inu Ndinu Yehova,’ and ‘Mwatikondera,’ which rifted the audience.

Then the main artist came: “How are you Malawi, Iam happy to be here.”

She started her show with the song ‘Issa,’ which she said was going out to her mother. The song was in French but the sizeable audience could not resist the African beats as they clapped hands in appreciation.

What also stunned the audience the most was that the female artist was playing with three people from different countries and yet they produced the best music and coordinated well.

On drums was Boris Tchango from Togo, Mehrezi Nabil from Tunisia-backing vocalist and guitarist and Colin laroche de Feline was on bass guitar.

In all her songs she played, she spoke freely of love, death, politics, exploitation of women and children in the African society today.

“ This one goes to all woman out there who are fighting for a better world,” said Dobet before he played her second song ‘Jigun,’ and then later ‘Paleya,’ which she said was going out to her love.

The audience still wanted more no wonder at one point when she said ‘I am tired,’ people thought it was the end of the show. She did not mean she was tired of the show but rather she was tired of politics in her country and in Africa.

She then went ahead to play Na Afriki(Africa my land). Other songs she also played were ‘Dala,’ ‘Yakiyi,’ ‘Abiyan,’ ‘Deuel,’ ‘Yambe Zizam,’ and ‘Nadodo.’

She then went for a rest for a few minutes before coming back, played and then bowed out of the stage as she received an overwhelming applause.

“Thank you Malawi for coming and goodluck. But before you go I have condoms for you for protection,” she said.

In an interview after the show, Dobet said she was happy to perform in Malawi and grateful for the support she got from the audience.

“ Malawi has musicians. I loved her(Ethel Kamwendo Banda) and we exchanged music,” she said displaying Kamwendo Banda’s DVD’s.

Kamwendo also said she was happy to perform alongside the Ivory Coast artist adding that she had been inspired to continue learning.

“I wish more musicians came to see her, she is a powerful female musician. They were only a few of them but they produced the best sound,” she said.

At the end the audience had to sing the concert was worth it and time well spent.