Kenyan Grammy Award-winning musician Bien-Aimé Alusa Baraza is set to headline this year’s Standard Bank-sponsored Live at Kumbali music concert in Lilongwe.
Bien, a former lead vocalist of the award-winning Afropop group Sauti Sol, will perform in Malawi on October 24 at Kumbali Castle, where he will share the stage with local artists Driemo, Praise Umali and Maggie Kadrum.
“The choice of the Kenyan and Grammy-award winner Bien, and the combination of some of the country’s highly rated musicians is designed to give patrons to the event an unforgettable experience. The local artist line-up also features heavy hitters that have graced stages across Africa and Europe,” said Tamanda Ng’ombe, Head of Brand & Marketing at Standard Bank.
Unpacking details of Live at Kumbali in Lilongwe on Wednesday, Ng’ombe said this year’s concert celebrates the fourth season of Standard Bank’s support to the creative industry in Malawi.
“Live at Kumbali is one of the offerings under our Joy of the Arts platform, designed to grow the Arts, Music and Culture industries in Malawi. Now in its fourth season, the concert has earned its place on Malawi’s calendar and provides a bigger stage for local musicians to perform alongside international stars, particularly from across Africa. Being the Title Sponsor for this event reaffirms our commitment to supporting the creative industry and promoting music,” she said.
Event organiser and coordinator Ian D’heygere said Live at Kumbali is a premium musical experience that focuses on curated live sessions that both showcase Malawian diversity and open Malawi for high-quality international acts.
“We are particularly proud that, over the years, the Kumbali Music Concert has become a significant platform for celebrating creativity and showcasing authentic Malawian talent and bringing in world-class performances. This year we have added an additional acoustic stage in the Summer House for upcoming Malawian talent also ensuring we generate a pipeline for artists ready for the main stage,” said Ian, General Manager, Kumbali.
Artist curator and event organiser George Kalukusha, founder of Pakhonde Sessions, highlighted the diversity of this year’s line-up, making the event an opportunity to discover new music whilst appreciating live experiences from local and international favourites.
“You can expect to experience a world of good sound and curated live sets. This is an experience for Music Lovers and those ready to enjoy music in all its forms. We feature ethno music, Hip Hop, Soul, Jazz, Afrobeat and Contemporary – as anchor sounds for the event.”
The concert will take place at Kumbali Castle, an idyllic countryside venue in Lilongwe featuring a castle-like setting surrounded by lush natural forest. The private site also includes a cosy hotel that has hosted international celebrities and Hollywood stars.
Bien is a celebrated Kenyan musician, activist, music executive and former lead vocalist of the award-winning Afropop band Sauti Sol. He launched his solo career in 2019 and has since won a Grammy Award for songwriting on Burna Boy’s album, Twice As Tall, which won the Best Global Music Album.
In 2025, Bien won a Trace Award for Best Artist in Eastern Africa. He is also fresh off the stage of the Afro Nation Music Festival, the world’s largest annual festival celebrating Afrobeats, Amapiano and Dancehall music, which was hosted in Portugal in July.
