By CHUSA SICHONE –
VETERAN artiste Chris Aka took an opportunity recently to campaign against early marriages, child defilement and gender-based violence (GBV).
Chris, who is a Plan International Goodwill Ambassador used Matthew Tembo’s Cha Cha Cha Oyamba album launch at Alliance Francaise in Lusaka last Thursday evening as a platform to sensitise the audience the vices which have become rampant in the country.
“Chris Aka says no to child defilement; Chris Aka says no to child marriages; Chris Aka says no to GBV.
“Am sure people may be surprised (saying) why is he talking about all these things? Wherever I go I talk about these things because I feel they are part of my life. I need to remind each one of us. If you are not a culprit, your relative may be a culprit, so the message has to go,” he said.
The dreadlocked artiste also introduced a “very special” person, his first manager, who also happens to be songbird Salma Sky’s mother.
It was while introducing his amazing band that Chris unveiled Gertrude – his wife – to whom he paid glowing tribute and expressed his unflinching love on stage.
Chris and the band entertained the audience to some live music coupled with an energetic stage performance, while his dancing queens took turns to mingle and dance with some patrons much to the delight of the audience.
Earlier, Mojo Music artiste Mumba Yachi and the band equally performed live and the reaction he received from the audience was testimony that people in attendance enjoyed his usual bare feet stage presence.
The moment everyone had been waiting for came at 22:04 hours when Matthew, together with his band, took to the stage.
The song Nelah off the Cha Cha Cha Oyamba album was one of the most loved tracks, judging by the many revelers who were skunking and singing along to it.
Matthew demonstrated that he could also use his fingers, besides his voice, by playing two keyboards at once.
Mathew went on to perform songs from his previous albums and those from the album of the night, Cha cha cha Oyamba.