Skeffa Chimoto dominates Zambian club playlists

Skeffa Chimoto continues to prove that Malawi’s musical talents have what it takes to make it beyond the borders as his songs form part of the playlists that entertain fun-seekers at various clubs and entertainment spots in the Zambian capital, Lusaka.

Over the weekend, The Nation visited seven hotspots in Lusaka, namely Mayela, Kalahari, Club Vegas, East Point, Chainama Golf Course and Ibex Hill.

At all the centres, two or three of Skeffa’s songs were on the playlists, mostly the hits Dalitsani Wokondedwa, Neneleni and Chinamauluma Chokuda.

There is something that commands in Skeffa’s songs and this was evident at Mayela Club. Every play of his songs attracted a huge reaction from the audience with the majority thronging onto the dancefloor and singing along.

At some spots, such as Club Vegas, one of the DJs was forced to repeatedly play Wokondedwa on request from some patrons.

In random interviews, some patrons revealed that what attracts most Zambians to Skeffa’s songs is that the artist tackles real life experiences and promotes happiness and love.

“Zambians talk love and we want to be happy. Skeffa Chimoto sings songs that complement our lives, especially during fun time. When we are at a bar, we dance with loved ones and you cannot dance to a song with a sorrowful message. So, any artist who composes in promoting love enjoys the majority support,” said Peter Mulenga, an imbiber at Mayela Club.

Another patron, Bridget Banda, said she has all of Skeffa’s albums and what pleases her is how the messages are weaved and how they relate to everyday life.

“I just like him. He released a song about the death of a mother a week after I had lost my mother. The pains that are painted in the songs are the representation of how I felt during the bereavement period. So, true stories attract anyone and Skeffa sings for all audiences. He has songs one can play while in sorrow and others when in high mood,” said Banda.

Nonetheless, while B1 and Organised Family are the Zambian artists that pose a serious competition to Malawian artists on both local radios and entertainment centres in Malawi, the situation is different in Zambia where Skeffa competes with Macky2.