Sam Max Jah, the earliest known individual in Malawi to embrace and spread Rastafari teachings from the late 1980s, has responded to the news that the Lost History Foundation (LHF) has offered him full sponsorship to attend the highly anticipated Burning Spear’s live performance on 26 October 2024 in Lilongwe.
He expresses particular excitement upon learning that retired radio presenter and reggae show host Geoffrey Kazembe would also be part of the special guests invited by LHF to attend the show.
Reflecting on their shared history, Sam Max Jah recalls his appearance on Geoffrey Kazembe’s Personality Show on MBC Radio in 1993, which famously opened with Gregory Isaacs’ hit ‘My Number One’.
Geoffrey Kazembe occasionally hosted Rastafarians on his show, at a time when the Rastafari movement was just beginning to gain visibility in Malawi, coinciding with the country’s transition to multiparty democracy (1993-1994).
The inclusion of both Sam Max Jah and Geoffrey Kazembe in the LHF delegation for the Burning Spear show on October 26, underscores their pivotal roles in the evolution of the Rastafari movement and reggae music in Malawi.
NB: Sam Max Jah is also a traditional leader, serving as Group Village Chief Nikurawu under TA Nsanama in Machinga district since 2013.
Click here for the audio