‘Embrace jazz’

Music Crossroads Malawi Director Mathews Mfune has said the country needs to embrace jazz.

Mfune said this Monday as Music Crossroads Malawi organised an International Jazz Day Festival at Pakwathu Entertainment in Lilongwe.

“It is high time we started giving jazz that limelight. We are happy that the festival went on well and people welcomed the initiative,” Mfune said.

He said the festival attracted performances from many musicians.

“We are greatly encouraged that jazz is gaining more followers, even among the youth, and we want to build it from there. We hope to create more platforms for jazz appreciation from this event,” Mfune said.

Some of the bands that starred at the festival include The Daughters Band, The Folk Songs Band, The Diminished Band, The Move International Band and Dan Sibale and Friends.

Meanwhile, Mfune has said Music Crossroads Malawi is targeting July to hold Pakhonde Festival, which promotes the playing of traditional music instruments that are slowly fading.

“The Pakhonde concept is now anchoring several showcases that are being undertaken by Music Crossroads Malawi. So, we are working things out for the festival that will run together with Imagine competition,” he said.