By ROBIN STANTON GERROW
BG Independent News
Although his home country of Malawi is more than 8,000 miles from Bowling Green, Ohio, Afro-jazz musician Sam Shaba is very excited to be considered a local act on the main stage of the Black Swamp Arts Festival.
It’s his first time to perform at the festival, but he’s been a regular attendee while studying for a master’s degree in jazz performance from Bowling Green State University.
“I’m so excited,” he said. “It’s a pleasure in the sense that I’m now from Bowling Green and it speaks volumes about the people here and how they appreciate local talent. It means a lot to me, and I want to make Bowling Green proud at the end of the day. This will be my first time as a musician at the festival and it’s going to be fun for us playing and everyone listening.”
Shaba grew up in a remote village in northern Malawi and his first instrument was a Vimbuza drum, a gift from his mother when he was 5 years old. Learning local traditional music and singing in the church choir set the foundation for his lifelong love of music from all over Africa.
His introduction to Bowling Green came from a Malawian friend who was studying at the university. After finding out about the music program, he applied, was accepted and began his program in Fall 2023.
“It’s been a great journey with great academics and general life experiences,” Shaba said. “I think my understanding an approach to music has improved so much having gone through BGSU. I’ve also created wonderful relationships with the Bowling Green community through the gigs I’ve played. It’s become a second home for me.”
While a student at BGSU, he introduced his blend of original and traditional African beats with jazz guitar to Northwest Ohio and has been a frequent performer at events, including this year’s Bowling Green Porchfest. Sometimes a solo performer, Shaba plans to have a full band—also local musicians—for his performances at the festival both on the main stage and the community stage.
Now that he has finished school, he’s looking forward to recording a new album that will feature collaborations with other musicians and taking the opportunity to tour.
“I’ve been writing a lot of music,” Shaba said. “And plans are to record and tour around the world since school is done and I have all of this freedom. I love music and want to make people happy everywhere I can.”
His plan for the new album is to take a more acoustic and percussion approach, and hopes to have it finished by the end of the year.
“This is all I’ve been dreaming of,” Shaba said. “I’ll have collaborations and I’m very excited about the future. I hope to usher people into the new year with beautiful music and bring joy into their lives.”
Shaba will be performing on the Main Stage, at noon, and the Community Stage at 3:45 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 6. Other Northwest Ohio bands on the Main Stage are Leadfoot Granny and Chloe & the Steel Strings.
Headliners for the festival include AJ Lee & Blue Summit, and Shadowgrass on Friday, Sept. 5; Alejandro Escovedo, and Duane Betts & Palmetto Motel on Saturday, Sept. 6; and LADAMA on Sunday, Sept. 7. The full line-up can be found here.
