Christmas Message by Fr. Mario Pacifici

Christmas 2011

Today, 14 December, is my birthday
and I invite you to join me in thanking the Lord
for the simple and great gift of life,
with its joy and sorrows.

Day by day it is a renewed commitment
in order to answer the call to life
to always live with joy and generosity
for donating it in its fullness.

A journalist asked Mother Teresa of Calcutta:
“What should change in the Church?”
She answered: “You and me”.
The child Jesus is coming again
and with trust we have to ask ourselves
“What can I change in my life,
for the world and the Church to be better?”

“If you accept that
the face of your neighbour is not similar to yours,
accept also that their opinion are different from yours.”

From Malawi the wish that Christmas
will gift the sobriety,
the universal brotherhood
the solidly love
and prepare our refectories
to welcome Jesus with joy
and also who is near and far from us

fr. Mario

Who is Clifton Mkwapatira?

Clifton Mkwapatira in Madrid - Spain during this year's World Youth Day

He is flexible. He has all it takes to be a dancer. His name is Clifton Mkwapatira. Together with Alleluya band, he has toured different Europe countries and he has also attended world Youth Day gatherings since 2008. Andiamo Website office finds out who Clifton is.

Who is Clifton Mkwapatira?
I was born on 15th June,1976. I did my primary school in two different schools: Balaka and Mponda Full Primary Schools. Both are in Balaka. I only managed to reach Form one because of financial problems. I am a married man with four sons.

How did you start dancing in Alleluya Band?
It all started in 2005 when leaders of Alleluya Band announced at St. Louis Montfort Catholic Church that they wanted dancers to join the group. That time I was a member of St. Louis Montfort choir and I was dancing in the church during mass. I took this as a chance to join the group so that I can expose my talent to the world.

I was the lucky one to be chosen out of many who came for interviews.

What kind of interview was that?
We were asked to show all our different skills in dancing and we danced different types of genres like Reggae, Rhumba, Kwasakwasa and other traditional dances like Beni and Manganje.

What type of challenges have you faced since you started dancing?
Challenges are many as a lot of people think dancing is not a career for a wise and intelligent person. Some people regard us as useless which is not the true.

Since you started dancing, what have you benefited in this career?
I have managed to build a big house although it is not fully finished. This is one of my biggest achievement in life. I have also managed to setup a small grocery shop which is being run by my wife. This shop helps my wife when I am out of the country. For the six years I have been with Alleluya Band, I have learnt a lot like how to work together with different people and I have also travelled to different countries in Europe.

Who inspired you to have interest in dancing and what type of dancing style are you interested to acquire now?
Kanda Bongo Man from Zaire who was doing Kwasakwasa in those days and Koffi Olomide from Democratic Republic of Congo who was doing Dombolo really inspired me. My wish is to be dancing like Usher Raymond. Now I am still practicing his dancing styles.

What advise can you offer to those who want to be a good dancer like Clifton Mkwapatira?
For those who want to be a good dancer and take dancing as a career, they should forget what people say and focus ahead. Some people have a spirit of pulling others down. They should be doing some body exercises, practice some dancing styles and they have to make sure that their body is physically fit.

Who has been behind Clifton’s success?
Leaders of Alleluya Band and the founding trustee of Andiamo Youth Cooperative Trust, Fr. Mario Pacifici have always been encouraging me to feel that I am part of the group. I really thank them for the encouragement.

My band of the year

Alleluya Band

Towards the end of each year, many radio stations in the country come up with what they call “Entertainers of the Year” programs. In their lists, they have a category called ‘Band of the Year’.

If I were given a chance to vote for my band of the year, I would not hesitate to say it is Alleluya Band! No? Am I biased? I don’t think so.

I am not saying that it is Alleluya Band because it is one of the oldest bands in Malawi. Neither am I saying this because the band has produced big names like Lucius Banda, Paul Banda, Patrick Abig Tung’ande, Rod Valamanja and Enort Mbandambanda. No! If it were for this reason alone then I would ask whoever gives awards to give it to Andiamo Youth Cooperative Trust because since its inception, it has produced many big people in the society.

My band of the year is Alleluya for reasons beyond entertainment. Alleluya band has shown that through music, we can change the world. The band, through many of its international tours, has sung for life and well being of many.

For example, just this year, the band was in Italy not to enjoy the beautiful historic monuments that are in that country. The band had more than forty, yes ’40’ shows in less than two months. Those that play music would know that this is not a mean achievement. These shows they did not for themselves but for the street kids who are being supported under Tigawane Project in Balaka.

You will agree with me that not many bands would have shows just for others later alone forty shows in two months! This is not the only thing that Alleluya Band has done. There are many. Through their many tours with the help of Italian volunteers, the band has come back with many projects that have benefitted the community in Balaka and beyond.

Will I be wrong to say, Alleluya Band is my band of the year? I don’t think so. By the way, this is the only band that has represented Malawi in almost all the World Youth Day Celebrations!

Alleluya describe this year’s trip as successful

Alleluya Band has described this year’s trip to Italy-Spain as “successful”.

Spokesperson for the group, Adam Douglas said that this year’s trip was organized with the aim of raising funds to buy a house which will be used as a home of street kids by Tigawane Project.

Alleluya Band performing in Avezzano, Italy

“We were given big support as usual in all the places we performed in Italy including in Madrid, Spain where we went to attend 2011 World Youth Day celebrations,” says Adam.

Adam also disclosed that through the two shows they had in Madrid, they realised that people in Europe love their cultural dances and songs. “We can also describe these two shows we had in Madrid as best shows we had during Italy-Spain trip,” adds Douglas.

When asked how useful was the trip, Getrude Naluso said that it has helped them to know how to welcome people from other countries, how to stay together with their fellow youths from different continents and also it has strengthened their faith as Christians.

The group spent two days in France where they had a chance of visiting a place where it is said that Virgin Mary appeared to a 17th-century shepherd girl in the French Alps before proceeding to Madrid.

Alleluya Band group has since thanked the organizers of this year’s trip to Italy Orizzonte Malawi and all stakeholders in Italy for making all the shows possible and all the support they rendered during their visit to Italy. They also thanked the donors for the support they have been giving to Andiamo Youth Cooperative Trust and people of Balaka.

Alleluya Band had 38 shows and 2 shows in Italy and Spain respectively.

The group’s visits to Italy have seen different developmental activities coming to the district of Balaka such as hospitals, schools being built in rural areas, just to mention a few.

Tigawane Project for street kids is expected to be operating within Balaka district and other areas surrounding the District.

Alleluya Band arrives in Spain

After performing a total of 32 shows in Italy with the aim to raise funds for Tigawane project for street kids, the band finally arrived in Spain for the World Youth Day (WYD) to take place in Madrid.

The group is expected to perform in Madrid till 22 August. According to the special website for the event, The Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI is expected to arrive at Barajas international airport on Thursday 18th of August, 2011.

The Band will entertain people with Malawi’s traditional dances. After the event, Alleluya Band is also expected to stage four more shows in Italy before returning back to Malawi in September.

for more information about the world youth day click the link below
http://madrid11.com/en/schedule/cultural-program

Hanleck Kalima: The new face in this year’s trip

As  Alleluya Band will be departing on 26 of June this year, it has included a new face in the Italy-Spain crew.

Hanleck Kalima, son to former Alleluya Band member, Mat Kalima, also known as Mjiba, will accompany the group in this trip. Hanleck Kalima a keyboardist is a graduate of Alleluya Band 2 in 2003.

Hanleck Kalima: to give out the best

When he was asked how he felt when the news was broken to him that he would be part of this year’s trip, Hanleck had this to say; ‘It was a surprise to me because I didn’t expect that I can be chosen since we are many youths here in Balaka with same talent as mine I only thank Fr. Mario Pacifici for choosing me to perform with Alleluya Band.’

Hanleck Kalima (Mjiba Junior) is the composer and producer of the track Alleluya in Malawi Woyee album which was released in March this year. He also says that as it is for the first time for him to perform in Europe, Hanleck says that he has prepared well and he wants to show youths in both Italy and Spain that also youths in Africa have talent and can give out the best.

Born a musician, Hanleck said he knows how to play every instrument in the band except Trumpet.

‘ I know that I was born to be in the music cycle because this talent is from my father who has been in music industry for more than 20 years and the talent is in my blood. As of now I am also one of the producers at Alleluya Studio,’ adds Hanleck.

Hanleck says he is expecting to release his first album in July this year which is titled Love and Suffering.

Calendario Alleluya Band per provincia

Tour of three nations

Article taken from The Nation News paper of June 3, 2011

 

Interview with Getrude Naluso

Getrude Naluso, a matron at Andiamo Education Institutions and a vice band leader of Alleluya Band explains how she became a dancer and the preparations of Italy-Spain trip.  

Getrude Naluso

Can tell us about yourself?
I was born on August 19 in 1981 in Balaka. I come from Mponda village, Traditional Authority Nsamala. I am a Roman Catholic Christian.

I did my primary school at Mponda Full primary school before proceeding to St. Louis Community Day Secondary school where I attended form 1 to 2 and that was from 2000 -2001. I then went to Limbikani Private Secondary School where I completed my secondary level. I did a course in Carpentry and Joinery at Andiamo Training Centre in 2006 with the support of Alessandro Marchetti and Valeria Giassi.

How did a carpenter become a dancer?
I used to take part in some of the church activities and organizing some dances during parish festivals. So it was in 2007 during a festival where I and three of my friends we were chosen to join Alleluya Band as dancers after the band was impressed with our performances. We were the first female members to join the group since it started.

So how was life at the beginning?
Life was a bit difficult because people were saying that it was our first step into prostitution since our membership meant also performing at night. For me, I forgot everything and I concentrated on my dancing career. Since 2008 I have been going with the group to Europe to perform. These trips also encourage me not to look back and make sure that I do behave well all the time.

What does it take to become a dancer?
Firstly, one needs to be a person who is physically fit, very flexible since we do not have well established institutions where people can be trained as dancers. A person needs to have regular practices for different dancing styles

What should people expect from you in Italy and Spain?
They should expect good performance and I will show them how good Malawian women are at dancing.  We have been doing our rehearsals since January and live performances as part of our preparations, so this time we are going to show them something different.

What is your message to girls who want to be like you?
They should know that everyone has got their own talent given by God. They should expose it without looking at what people say.

When you want to be a dancer you have to abstain from sexual behavior which can ruin your life.

Alleluya Band 2011 Tour in Italy and Spain

Alleluya Band will perform in Spain on the World Youth Day (WYD) from 15 to 21 August. The association of Andiamo Malawi Onlus and a group of volunteers in Italy are facilitating the trip.

According to the president of the association, Emanuele Todeschini, Volunteers in Italy are preparing to welcome the band. The band is expected to perform in different areas in Italy before going to Spain.’ We hope this will be our best trip ever and this time around our fans should expect something big both in Italy and Spain where we are going to perform,’ said Coss Chiwalo.

Meanwhile the group is preparing for a launch of their CD and DVD titled “Wawa Malawi” which will be launched on 27 February 2011 at Summit Cultural Centre in Lilongwe, a place owned by one of the founding members of Alleluya band, Lucius Banda. Andiamo Malawi Onlus has been working with Andiamo cooperative Trust for many years and sponsored all Alleluya band trips to many countries in Europe including trips to Germany, Australia to attend the WYD celebration and other trips to Italy.

Coss Chiwalo said the Band appreciates the total sponsorship the band is receiving from Friend of Alleluya band and Andiamo cooperative trust in Italy.

On WYD, youths all over the world in catholic church and those willing from
different denominations come together to celebrate their day. This year the
celebration will be held in Madrid, Spain on 15 – 21 August, 2011 as announced by the governor of Madrid, Esperanza Aguirre.

She has also assured the public that local officials would support the event and ensure it would be a success. According to catholic online news, the theme for this day is “Rooted and build up in Jesus Christ, firm in the faith” (Col 2:7). Pope Benedict XVI will attend the function.

Besides the main WYD events, different activities will take place throughout the day as part of the cultural program. The program will include concerts, exhibits, guided museum visits, plays, and much, much more.

The band leader of the group Coss Chiwalo said that at the moment they are preparing for the launch and they will start their training for the trip after the launch.

The Band which has already organised some traditional dances and songs is expected to land in Italy in June.

The World Youth Day is expected to be attended by thousands of youth from all over the world.

The complete list of activities which will take place in Madrid will be announced later, when all proposals have been received and processed.

For more information on world Youth Day visit:http//www.madrid11.com/en or http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/