MZUZU-(MaraviPost)-The cool Mzuzu night refused to sleep at the weekend as the National Bank of Malawi (NBM) plc hosted the electrifying Mo626 Northern Region Intercollege Social Weekend, a celebration that transformed the city into a sea of music, lights, fashion and non-stop youthful energy.
What began as a colourful Saturday afternoon social gathering quickly evolved into one of the most memorable student experiences the north has witnessed in recent times.
Students from Mzuzu University, Mzuzu Technical College, Malawi Institute of Journalism and University of Livingstonia arrived dressed in dramatic themed costumes inspired by ‘Peaky Blinders’, ‘The Incredibles’, and ‘Batman’, turning the ‘Tiphwasuke’ afternoon session into a moving cinematic parade.
The venue became a runway of creativity as sharply dressed ‘gangsters’ from the 1920s walked shoulder to shoulder with ‘superheroes’ and masked crusaders.
When winners for the best costume were announced, excitement erupted across the grounds as the top contestants walked away with K250,000 cash prizes while several others received NBM plc branded T-shirts and drinking bottles.
But it was after dark that the real business began.
As the first beats blasted through the giant speakers on the night of Saturday, rolling into Sunday, thousands of students abandoned thoughts of sleep and surrendered themselves to a musical marathon that stretched toward sunrise.
The dance floor soon turned into clouds of dust and joy when Trappy Beats dropped the fan favourite track ‘Makheta’. Students jumped wildly in rhythm, raising thick dust into the air as screams and whistles echoed through the venue.
Just when signs of exhaustion started appearing among some students, Trappy switched the tune to ‘Ndikubereka’ tune, instantly reviving the crowd and pulling everyone back onto the dance floor.
In one of the night’s biggest surprises, hip-hop giant Fredokiss stunned students when he unexpectedly emerged onto the stage despite not being on the official lineup.
The moment the opening words of ‘Amafila Fredo’ hit the speakers, the grounds exploded with deafening screams and sing-alongs.
Students waved their hands in the air as Fredokiss continued with ‘Thawi Zanji’ track, while the crowd dramatically mimicked the song’s famous gestures, creating a breathtaking sea of synchronised movement under the flashing stage lights.
The energy barely had time to settle before Crispy Malawi stormed the stage, taking the audience on a nonstop musical ride beginning with the song ‘Nkhatabay’. The crowd sang every lyric word-for-word before rolling into the ‘Tili bwiNO’ tune.
As organisers attempted to move the programme forward, students refused to let him leave the stage without performing ‘Top Sheila’, chanting loudly in what became a passionate ‘By public demand yapa MZUNI’ moment.
When Kell Kay finally stepped onto the stage, screams from female students instantly pierced through the cold Northern night.
They passionately sang along to ‘Billu’, ‘Mayomayo’, and ‘Lobola’, with phone flashlights illuminating the venue like stars as they hoisted them cheerfully.
Then came Joe Ikon, who arrived with explosive energy that shook the grounds.
His performance of ‘Pang’ono’ drove the audience into a frenzy so intense that he threw himself into the crowd, only to lose a shoe and sunglasses in the chaos.
Laughing through the excitement, he quickly switched into ‘Agulu’, sending the audience into another wild wave of dancing.
After Ikon’s high-energy performance, Achina Gattah Ase took over the stage with crowd favourites including ‘MG1’, ‘Fact Up’, and ‘Amah’, keeping the momentum alive as students continued jumping and singing despite the approaching sunrise.
As darkness slowly surrendered to the first signs of morning from the direction of Nkhata Bay, Zeze Kingston became the last man standing on stage.
By then, many students had completely forgotten they even had beds waiting for them.
Zeze transformed the Mo626 Intercollege Social Weekend into what felt like a giant Sunday beach party as he performed ‘Ndilira Mumvula’, ‘Ndasangalala,’ ‘Ndathela Pano’, and the explosive ‘Kagwere Uko’, carrying the exhausted but determined crowd into sunrise.
Speaking after the event, NBM plc Marketing and Corporate Affairs Manager, Akossa Mphepo-Hiwa, said the Bank remains committed to creating memorable experiences for young people while connecting with students beyond financial services.
“We understand that young people are not only looking for banking solutions but also meaningful experiences that bring them together, inspire creativity and celebrate talent. This social weekend is part of our commitment to supporting youth development and campus life,” she said.
One of the students from Mzuni, Yohane Banda, described the event as unforgettable.
“This was more than just a show. The energy, the surprise performances and the atmosphere were unbelievable. We danced the whole night without even realising time was moving. NBM plc gave us an experience we will never forget,” said Banda.
By sunrise, tired faces could still be seen smiling as groups of students slowly walked away from the venue, dusty, exhausted, hoarse from singing, but carrying memories powerful enough to last long after their college years are over.
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