Using Artists to Tame The Impact of COVID-19
For Brave Nanseta from Luchenza Trading Centre, the popular sound tag of ‘Phalombe, Phalombe music’ by musician Giboh Pearson, was too alluring to miss when he heard it from loud speakers at an approximate distance of one kilometer.
“I was just relaxing at home when I heard the loud music from the direction of our market. Since I had nothing to do at home I decided to go and find out what was happening. This is how I ended up at the roadshow where Giboh Pearson was performing live on stage,” recalled Nanseta.
He said he was excited to see Giboh Pearson performing live on stage for the first time.
“Gibo ndi mwana wa m’mudzi (Gibo is our homeboy) I was very excited to watch him performing live on stage for the first time,” said Nanseta.
He added that he needed no introduction why musician Giboh Pearson was at Luchenza Chibuku Tarven that moderate sunny afternoon.
Nanseta said: “I was already greeted by a truck van which was beautifully branded by COVID-19 related messages before I figured out what was happening. And from now I knew I was a COVID-19 campaign.”
Nanseta said he found Giboh Pearson in the middle of a thrilling music performance, which was interjected by messages on COVID-19 which motivated him to get the vaccine too.
Conducted by Applied Development Communication and Training Services (ADECOTS), the roadshow was part of the activities lined up for the COVID-19 Vaccination Campaign under the Moyo Ndi Mpamba brand. ADECOTS is implementing the campaign alongside the Ministry of Health (MoH) through Phalombe and Thyolo District Health Offices (DHOs) with financial support from the Access Challenge.
At both Matumbo school ground and Luchenza market the roadshows were hyped by the presence and live performance of the local music star Giboh Pearson of Phalombe Music power house. Spotting a white pair of jeans, white and green cap, black pair of Balenciaga shoe and Moyo Ndi Mpamba branded T-Shirt, school children did not only swarm Giboh as he was getting out of his car at Matumbo, but also screamed ‘Giboh! Giboh!’.
Indeed, there was no dull moment when Giboh was invited on stage by ADECTOS’ roadshow manager Tonny Seunda who doubled as the host of the thrilling event. He went straight into business (music performance), drawing a wild excitement the from people who had been eagerly waiting for him.
As the popular ‘Giboh Pearson, Phalombe, Phalombe music’ tag bangs, enthusiastic fans, especially the youth and children, encored with zeal and liveliness to pump up Giboh’s morale.
Giboh did not only perform his music, but also engaged the audience on COVID-19 vaccine where best responders went away with Moyo Ndi Mpamba branded T-Shirts.
“Ndabaitsa. Mwabaitsa? Ngati simunamayitse achipatala alipompano kupereka katemera wa COVID-19. Ndi udindo wa aliyense kudziteteza ku COVID-19 (I have been vaccinated. What about you? In case you haven’t been vaccinated against COVID-19, you can do so right here because we have health workers who are administering the vaccine. It is our responsibility to protect ourselves from COVID-19,” Giboh used to scream this at intervals during the roadshow.
Aside Giboh’s music performance, there was also comedy and traditional dances which spiced up the roadshows.