|
|
|
|
| Entertainment |
| Why gospel music concerts are popular |
|
by
Our Reporter, 16 July 2004
-
14:34:41
|
It has been argued that Malawi has no real source of entertainment, especially family entertainment. Apart from watching television at home, people really have nothing to turn to for entertainment outside their homes.
Football is probably the only consolation for a greater majority of those who like to have some fun over the weekend. But then again, not everyone likes football. And even for fanatics of the country’s most popular sport, it would become monotonous to have the same game for a pastime all the time.
This could probably be the reason why it is not unusual these days to find entertainment venues jam-packed during weekends, with music lovers willingly availing themselves for gospel music concerts.
Not a fortnight goes by without a ‘mega’ gospel show being held at one of the popular venues in town. Simply put, gospel music concerts have become the most popular source of entertainment these days, probably second only to football. The turn of events is enough to make people wonder.
Renowned gospel artist Wycliffe Chimwendo says people love gospel music shows these days because they enjoy themselves at the concerts.
“The environment at the concerts is conducive for family entertainment. Gospel concerts are friendly, peaceful and there is security such that people have all the fun without fearing for their lives,” says Chimwendo.
He adds that even the artists are encouraged to give more performances by the kind of support they get from the patrons.
Most gospel concerts are, according to him, organised as fundraising activities and people are always happy and willing to give for a good cause.
Enesia Chitheka-Luwis of the Chitheka Family agrees with Chimwendo and says that people have come to love gospel shows for their violence-free nature, but adds that it is more due to people’s recognition of the importance of having God in their lives that makes them enjoy such shows than just having fun.
“Gospel shows are much more highly patronised here in Blantyre than in Lilongwe because people attend the shows not just for fun but also to hear the message,” she said, adding that gospel concerts afford families a rare kind of entertainment suitable for the everyone.
On the other hand, another popular artist Lloyd Phiri feels there is a spiritual void that has been created in people’s lives, leaving them searching for something to meet that need. Hence others hope to have that need met through gospel music.
“Unlike in the past, the messages in gospel music these days directly address issues that people go through in their day-to-day lives, and as such the audience is able to identify themselves with the issues in the songs,” says Phiri.
One Blantyre-based ardent patron of gospel shows, Chifundo Kamala says gospel artists have changed with times, attracting fans in the process.
“The messages in gospel songs today are more down to earth than ever before, and the danceable instrumentation applied coupled with the rhythm employed in the music have all contributed to its popularity,” she says.
Apart from this, she adds that there is a lot of competition on the gospel music front which has forced artists to come up with more mature and enjoyable hits, thereby attracting a lot of following.
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
