Madalitso Band, the duo of Babatoni player Yobu Maligwa and acoustic guitar star Yosefe Kalekeni, departed on Thursday from Kamuzu International Airport (KIA) in Lilongwe for their seventh European tour.
The group’s European tour comes shortly after their successful outing at the MTN Bushfire Festival in eSwatini last month.
Coming from the outskirts of Mtandire in Lilongwe, the group has expressed its intention to promote Malawi through music.
Co-manager Neil Nayar, who oversees their international tours with support from fellow manager Emmanuel Kamwenje, is accompanying the duo. Nayar mentioned that they have a packed schedule similar to previous tours, continuing from where they left off last year.
“As always, the stakes are high. We have numerous dates lined up. After the United Kingdom, we will proceed to France until September 23. We are scheduled to be in Italy from September 2 to 5 2024,” he said.
Madalitso Band is set to hold their first performance tomorrow in Berlin, Germany.
“Securing these opportunities is never easy, but our track record at various festivals has elevated Madalitso Band’s reputation,” Nayar remarked.
Kamwenje added that the duo is committed to delivering authentic music and representing Malawi to the fullest.
“Their musical progress has been remarkable since their breakthrough at the Sauti Za Busara Festival in Tanzania in 2017,” he noted.
Maligwa, the lead vocalist, expressed happiness with their achievements in raising Malawi’s profile through music, looking forward to another exciting European tour.
“We are grateful to our managers Neil Nayar and Emmanuel Kamwenje; they have been instrumental in raising our profile on international stages. We never expected this, but we thank God for everything,” Maligwa said.
Last year, the group successfully represented Malawi on a global tour, starting in Europe before making their debut in the United States, performing in over 20 concerts.
