June 18, 2010: Jacaranda Music Explosion was a success!
A Benefit Concert for the Jacaranda School, at French Cultural Center in Blantyre, Malawi
On June 18, 2010, the Jacaranda School exploded in music at the French Cultural Center in Blantyre, during our first fundraising concert in Malawi. A line-up of Malawian music stars took the floor, featuring different styles of music (reggae with Chiozo and Sally Nyundo, hip hop with Young Kay and Tigris, pop with Skeffa Chimoto, Soul with Marko Sadik, acoustic music with Agoloso and Snowden Ibbu...) Six hours of music which included the Jacaranda School Band. The children of Jacaranda played six songs and had the audience dancing in no time! Shanghai American School students also took part in the show, with Honami performing a short ballet dance scene, and Xiang Yi and Benjamin playing an amazing duo of harmonica and electric guitar... Three children from the Hindu community in Blantyre performed a beautiful Indian dance. We also had a raffle with several great prizes. Thank you to all the organizers, our volunteers from Germany (David, Meryan, Johannes and Jonas), and Marilyn and Rehana especially! Thanks also to our MC, Sista Fire, who did a tremendous job... A huge thanks to all the artists who performed for free, and to all the sponsors: French Cultural Center in Malawi (Merci Johanna!), International Commercial Bank, Cape Mac Lodge, Grill 21 at Ryalls Hotel, Arkay Plastic, Aqua Pure, Devraj, Fashion House, Limbe Tailoring, and Vanzara Brothers. And most of all, we would like to thank the man who brought music into our school: music composer and producer Rick Nowels last year visited the Jacaranda School, donated a keyboard, sang and played music with our students, and from then on, our school has been filled with song... Browse through the pictures of the concert below, courtesy of Johannes.
A special thanks to the French Cultural Center in Blantyre, Malawi, for hosting the Jacaranda Music Explosion and for all the help!
The Jacaranda School Band and Choir (above) ravished the audience. Malawian reggae star Sally Nyundo (left) sang his hit "Rasi" and played bass guitar with the children. Chiozo (bottom left) performed several reggae classics from Bob Marley.
Soul artist Marco Sadik (below) performed a song he composed for the Jacaranda School and sang several of his hits, including "Linda".
Hip Hop stars Young Kay and Tigris rapped in English and Chichewa.
Malawian pop star and friend of Jacaranda Skeffa Chimoto, put up a tremendous show with both music and dance.
Acoustic music was also featured at the Jacaranda Music Explosion, with veteran artist Snowden Ibbu (left), and the subtle, aerial sounds of Agoloso (right).
Shanghai American School students spiced the show. Honami (above) performed balled dance, while Benjamin (below) and XY (right), astonished everyone with a virtuose duo of electric guitar and harmonica.
Children from the Hindu community in Blantyre performed gorgeous traditional dances.
Artist and radio DJ Sista Fire was the MC of the evening. Here, Sista Fire introduces Jacaranda primary school student Vanessa, who picked the winning raffle tickets.