3rd Eye quits music

After a flourishing 13 year musical journey, hip-hop artist Third Eye has hung the microphone. The outspoken hip hop artist says he now wants to concentrate on youth activism through a foundation is about to establish.

Born Mandela Mwanza, Third Eye has been writing short stories and poems since 1992.

He recorded his first song in 2001 and that is how he found himself into the industry and has fuelled by his passion to create feeling through wordplay.

He has six albums to his credit including Imagine Being Jesus And Not Knowing It, Taking Kandy From A Blind Baby, The Hat-Trick and Broken Verses.

“I’m officially retiring as a hip hop artist and starting my new career as a youth activist,” he said before adding, “I will also soon be launching a charitable organisation called The Mandela Mwanza Foundation whose primary focus is youth entrepreneurship, HIV and Aids, environment and sanitation,” said the artist in an exclusive interview with Chill.

When the movement is all up and running, Third Eye plans on taking the organisation across the continent.

“When I accomplish that here, I want to go set up the same in Kenya and then head to South Africa next year. I feel if I manage to do this and have foundations in three African regions then 2016 will see my brand become global and put Malawian art and youth activism on the map,” he said.

The artist wants to be the agent of social change which he has been advocating and describing through music for the past decade.

Explained Third Eye: “As of now, I am in talks with the US Embassy to help with their push for youth entrepreneurship among the youth of Malawi. They also want me to get involved with the Youth Council and to also help form the Youth Charter. This is apart from the concepts they want me to create for some of their youth based projects. I’m also considering getting involved with Arterial Network. All this in addition to my mission in Kenya guarantees a very busy but fulfilling year ahead of me.”

However, he will hang on a bit in the industry in order to finish other business.

“I only have one international deal I signed last June in South Africa with Content Connect Africa to fulfil and it has one more year left. They publish my music on all major online stores including iTunes SA, and iTunes. They also provide content to mobile networks such as MTN, Vodacom and Orange which has made my music available for mobile purchase in 11 African countries including South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Tanzania and Ghana,” explained Third Eye.

But for some, Third Eye who turns 30 on November 30, is too young to retire and still has the future ahead of him.

This is his prime time to make inroads into the Malawi hip hop industry which continues to be in its infancy.

“I am. But I’d rather go out in my prime than fade away at my peak,” he quickly explained.

He added: “When I released my first album in 2007, hip hop to most Malawians was nothing more a hobby for confused youth. But I think I managed to convince the older generation that hip hop is all for well informed and motivated youth. Now hip hop is a tool for change. Job done.

“When I see artists such as Gwamba and Mwanache rising through songs that describe real Malawian life I know the movement will continue without me. I’m more interested in hosting hip hop forums and founding the Hip Hop Association of Malawi than I am in pushing personal album sales. My international reputation so far has already surpassed my wildest expectations when I recorded my first album so yes I feel fill fulfilled,” he said emphatically.

However, Mandela does not take it as much of a success.

“I don’t feel I’m successful yet because my life mission is still far from complete. To answer your question though I’d say it’s been the same as any warrior’s journey. Every true warrior loves to protect his people and at the same time hates to kill others but must find a way to balance both. And then do you think you have achieved what you wanted when you started hip hop music,” he mused.

His deal with South Africa’s Content Connect Africa has bore him many fruits as it has led to the establishment of his entertainment company.

“My dealings with Content Connect Africa have inspired me to set up my entertainment company as a contribution to Malawian music. It’s called Soul Rebel Entertainment and its management include Tom Mmangeni, Chifwayi Chirambo, Eugenia Kakhobwe, Chikondi Makawa, Celeste Chitundu and Sam Kachale. The company is now a few weeks from being fully operational.

“Soul Rebel Entertainment will create its own mobile application that will soon allow Malawians to download music from 15 Soul Rebel artists including Third Eye as long as they’re registered to Airtel Money,” he said.