After months of promotions, speculations, and anticipations, the time finally came for legendary R&B group to grace Zambia with their talented voices.
Boys II Men (made up of Nathan Morris, Shawn Stockman and Wanya Morris) performed at the famed Stanbic Music Festival, held at the Polo club in Showgrounds Lusaka, on two magical nights, Friday 22nd and Saturday 23rd September.
Both nights had different sets of local entertainers while being headlined by the harmony/a cappella trio.
MC’s for the event were Dj, host, presenter and radio personality, Chishala Chitoshi AKA Gesh Groove and voice over artist, corporate communications specialist Kamiza Chikula.
The Friday event had a highly anticipated performance by Mumba Yachi. Many people were not optimistic that he would be able to make it to the event due to his recent legal battles, but, much to the delight of his fans, he made it. Mumba did not disappoint, the folk musician gave a stellar performance. Hip-hop heavy weight Chef 187 was a crowd favorite. Everyone spoken to had nothing but high praises about his performance!
On the second night revelers took a trip down memory lane with K’millian belting out his unforgettable tracks. As expected his song “Kakabalika” and “Nizakukonda” were instant hits with the crowd, everyone was joyfully singing along.
Apart from Boys II Men, the stand out performance of the event was electronic violinist Caitlin De Ville. There was a lot of skepticism before the show about having Caitlin perform right before the main act. She proved all her doubters wrong with her spectacular performance! This was the first time for many to watch the Copperbelt native her perform live. She was exceedingly better than most had anticipated.
Caitlin performed covers of popular songs such as “Shape of you” by Ed Sheeran, “Bottle of loneliness” by El Mukuka, “Wild thoughts” by Dj Khalid ft Rihanna , “Galamukani” by James Sakala. She really got the crowd hooked by playing electric violin covers of old school (90’s) hits such as, “Gangstas paradises” by Coolio, “I’ll be missing you” by Puff Daddy, “Changes” by 2pac, “Black or White” by Michael Jackson among others. The whole audience was singing along and reminiscing about the ‘good old days’.
After a short intermission the MC’s of the event came on stage to introduce the long awaited main act. The audience was restless and began to chant for Boys II Men.
Their hit song “Motown Philly” started playing and the crowd went wild. “Motownphilly’s back again, doin’ a little east coast swing. Boys II men going off, not too hard, not too soft…” they sang as the audience screamed in excitement. It was a dream come true for many to finally get to watch the legendary Boys II Men in person.
The trio went on to sing their greatest hits such as “ On bended knee”, “Its so hard to say goodbye to yesterday”, “Water runs dry”, “I’ll make love to you” among many more of their seemingly endless hits. It was an emotional night, couples reminisce about their youth, and for others it took them back to a time when they were kids listening to their parent’s favorite songs. Songs such as “A song for mama” and “4 seasons of loneliness” literally brought some people to tears. The crowd loved it and got every bit of their moneys worth.
The biggest reactions from the crowd were to “One sweet day” and “End of the road”, which are arguably their biggest hits. Boy II Men cut the music to let the audience sing along, and to their amazement they knew every single word to both songs and sang at the top of their lungs.
The Boys II Men concert is one that will live long in the memory. It was a magical experience that many will treasure for a lifetime.
Boy II Men member, Nathan Morris, took to social media to thank the Zambian fans:
“September 19th marked 26 years of doing what we do. When doing it for so long you tend to get jaded… but when you leave the continent to perform, and 26 years later people are still singing your music at the top of their lungs you remember what its all about. It is and has never been about you… it’s not all about you. I thank God for using us to musically spread the message of love around the world! Thank you Zambia!” he said
Thank u Zambia! pic.twitter.com/iyZD3eKOBw
— Boyz II Men (@BoyzIIMen) September 23, 2017
PICTURES FROM THE EVENT
BY KAPA187
wow! wish I’d been there!
I always knew that Boyz II Men were Zambians. Welcome back home BoyZ. Mundyoli and chikanda are waiting for you!!
Solola Bye
Ridiculous
I am studying doing exams and becoming a better person both academically and working wise and you are attending or gift credence to these people?
Grow up and get a life people
Thanks
BB2014,2016
Mumba Yachi is puke inducing! Does he have Mantrition?
who got him out of jail to taint this wonderful show!
THIS IS KOOL. SEEING MUSICIANS ON STAGE WITH THEIR INSTRUMENTS MEANS, REAL MUSIC, BEING PLAYED. THIS FESTIVAL SHOULD BE SPREAD TO OTHER TOURISM TOWNS SUCH AS SAMFYA, NCHELENGE, MPULUNGU, SIOMA, ETC, TO LET LOCAL AND FOREIGN TOURISTS PLAN THEIR HOLIDAYS TO COINCIDE WITH THESE FESTIVALS. FESTIVALS SHOULD ALSO EXTEND TO TRADITIONAL DANCES AND OTHER PERFORMANCES. STANBIC HAS INITIATED THE FESTIVAL MOOD- OTHER BUSINESSES CAN ALSO SPONSOR MANY POTENTIAL FESTIVALS. THANKS STANBIC, THANKS ALSO GO TO THE PEACE-LOVING PEOPLE OF ZAMBIA.
Great turn up great show! some naysayers were saying ati why bring them now when they are old. My dear broke guys and keyboard warriors, you should have been there, you would have chocked with envy!
REAL MUSIC DOESN’T GET OLD. I AM A FAN OF JAZZ AND I LISTEN TO MILES DAVIS’S LOUIS ARMSTRONGS’S, WES MONTEGOMERY’S AND ALL THE JAZZ GREATS. THE MUSIC STILL SOUNDS NEW AND GREAT TO ME.
I SIMPLY LOVE MUMBA YACHI AND JAMES SAKALA. THESE TWO PLAY AND SING REAL MUSIC. KEEP IT UP BOYS.
And if you look at their stage gear its got identity. Noti ba Kmillian naba Abel Musuka
That was really great to have the B2M in Zed, but organizers should know by now that big concerts like this you don’t arrange seats for the fans. It is standizo and dansio until the event is over.
I agree with you… I thought exactly the same thing when I saw the chairs in front row. I was like wait a minute this is a music concert not Obama political rally. Anyway perhaps they put them for older folks who grew up listening to BoysIIMen, making their babies to the slow jams of Boyz2Men, hahaha.
One other observation I noticed is how some of our musicians appear a little malnourished (not saying this in a bad way but you can’t help noticing it).
What a memorable show.. Had so much fan and a couple of trips down memory lane. BoysIIMen were stunned to see such a crowd right in the heart of the motherland. Really emotional for them too.. Sean Stockman apologised to the crowd for having come so late in their career..Im sure they never knew kuli chalo chonzuna monga Zambia…R.Kelly next year…
I told you folks the other day that BoyzIIMen are the real deal… these guys give it their all and that explains their longevity. They connect with their fans on an emotional level and to them it’s about giving their fans what they love. They have never been in trouble with the law and they are still down to earth. I saw them a couple of years ago and I left the show very impressed and thought it was worth it. I also saw Joe (Thomas) and Kci during what many would consider their twilight years in the music careers, boy wasn’t I impressed. Most of these young musicians come on stage for a short time and their never impress… they will either be under the influence and go off the rails or if they are sober they will be very tired and wouldn’t perform. One time I saw Rihanna and Jay-z…
Saw KCi and Jojo once as well, worst show ever. They appeared high and couldn’t even hold a note.
I saw Joe as well. But he was very good.
continued….
One time I saw Rihanna and Jay-z on stage together, and it was Jay-z who actually impressed me.
Again it was an honour for the country to play host to this once in a generation act of BoyzIIMen and I’m glad the audience enjoyed (although not surprised because I was expecting it).
How come James Chamanyazi did not perform?
I still get chills listening to Shawn Stockman’s ‘vision of a sunset’.
Had my first girlfriend when One Sweet Day was out.
Memories…
While you were busy saying “balipwa” your friends were busy organising 500 pin. And so you have been left to regret with a hangover from Uncle Ts chi cup. Next time be productive and proactive
Surprised to see some belivers I know singing along to ‘i will make love to you”still in the world ka?
Stop being pretentious. You can’t make love to your wife? You’re the same people who say we’re believers but you cheat, you steal , you backbite… The same things “people in the world” do. Get a life.
Just fantastic!!!!
ka million like a cleaner, he should have been wiping out there sweat.
Naka jean kapa soweto ba guy uluse but pa zed tate yalikosa
James Sakala at Mkushi high school