Kenyan’s Bien set for Kumbali Live

READY FOR THE CONCERT— Bien

Kenyan artist Bien-Aime Alusa Baraza, popularly known as Bien will headline this year’s Standard Bank Live at Kumbali concert on October 24.

Bien, a musician and music executive, who has also been part of afro-pop music outfit – Sauti Sol will share the stage at Kumbali Castle in Lilongwe with a local cast of Driemo, Praise Umali and Maggie Kadrum.

With several tracks to his acclaim, Bien’s solo career started with the release of songs such as ‘Dimension’ and ‘Inauma’.

He joins other international artists that have starred at the concert in the previous editions and they are South Africa’s Ami Faku, Simmy and Shekhinah.

The local artists that have performed at Kumbali Live in the past years include Lawi, Eli Njuchi, Kalukusha and Theresa Phondo.

Standard Bank Head of Brand and Marketing Tamanda Ng’ombe said yesterday that the choice of the Kenyan and Grammy-award winner and the local acts is designed to give patrons to the event an unforgettable experience.

“The local line-up also features top artists that have graced stages across Africa and Europe,” Ng’ombe said.

She said this year’s concert celebrates the fourth season of Standard Bank’s support to the creative industry in Malawi.

Ng’ombe said Live at Kumbali is one of the offerings under the bank’s Joy of the Arts platform, designed to grow the creative industry in the country.

Event Organiser and coordinator, Ian D’heygere, who is also Kumbali General Manager, said the Live at Kumbali concert is a premium musical experience that focuses on curated live sessions that both showcase Malawian diversity and open Malawi for high-quality international acts.

“We are particularly proud that, over the years, the Kumbali Music Concert has become a significant platform for celebrating creativity and showcasing authentic Malawian talent and bringing in world-class performances,” D’heygere said.

He said that this year they have added an additional acoustic stage in the Summer House for budding local talent ensuring that they generate a pipeline for artists ready for the main stage.

Artist curator and event organiser George Kalukusha, who is the founder of Pakhonde Sessions, highlighted the diversity of this year’s line-up.

“You can expect to experience a world of good sound and curated live sets. This is an experience for music lovers and those ready to enjoy music in all its forms. We feature ethno music, hip- hop, soul, Jazz, afro-beat and contemporary – as anchor sounds for the event,” Kalukusha said.