Malawi is home to talented musicians who play genres such as local (homegrown vibes), reggae, rhumba, hip hop, jazz, Amapiano, R & B (pop) and Afro beat.
Anything in between is either a combination of local and contemporary or pure foreign music genres such as Mbira, Rhumba, Pop, Jazz, Country and Western.
Malawian local music derives its sound or impressions from its abundant cultures which are predominantly expressed through traditional dances and music.
There are home-grown dances such as Ingoma, Gulewamkulu, Mganda, Manganje, Vimbuza, Sopa and Utse, which most musicians draw their inspirations from.
For example, Vimbuza is a cultural dance associated with spiritual healing power and is commonly danced among Tumbukas.
Gulewamkulu is a traditional cult and dance which is popular in among Chewas. The late Father Claude Boucher (popularly known as Achisale) of Mua Mission of Dedza Catholic Church is one of the white Catholic priests on record to have been initiated into the gulewamkulu cult in Malawi.
Ingoma is a traditional dance common among Ngonis who are found in different parts of Malawi, including Northern and Central regions.
Ingoma dancers wear animal skins such as lions and leopards and carry bows, arrows and spears. It is also referred to a warriors’ dance and is performed by Ngonis after a victorious battle.
Today, due to increased influence of technology and competition for global recognition, Malawian musicians are fusing traditional dances and cultures with elements of contemporary music.
Nigeria and South Africa are some of the African countries which are currently enjoying a momentous spotlight on the international stage with their afro beat and Amapiano, respectively. Davido, Burna Boy, Tyla and Makhazi are some of the African superstars who are shining on the global stage with their inspiring sounds.
Faith Mussa, ‘Sir’ Paul Banda, Peter Mawanga, Keturah, Ernest Ikwanga, Onesimus, Theresa Phondo, Lulu, Tay Grin, Black Missionaries Band, Agorosso and Joe Gwaladi are some of the Malawian artists with an excellent touch of Malawian ingenuity. They are currently fighting for world recognition, wave after wave.
Faith Mussa fuses sounds derived from traditional instruments such as badza to produce gospel music which he calls Mdidi sound. His international brand is called One Man Band which has toured the globe, including Glasgow in the United Kingdom (UK).
Tay Grin is famous for blending hip-hop with gulewamkulu drums and tchopa dance.
He has also exported his music to Europe (US and Ireland) and other African countries such as Zambia, Nigeria and South Africa. Tay Grin has popular hits such as Tchalosi featuring Maskal, 2 by 2 and Chipapapa.
Tay Grin said he blends hip hop with traditional music to bring something new on the global stage.
“The value of embracing one’s identity when it comes to global music can never be underrated because competition is high. The world music stage is searching for something new and unique. This is the reason I blend hip hop with Malawian traditional music and dance,” he said.
Lulu is another multi-talented Malawian musician and a live performer from Lilongwe City. His music style has dominant elements of R & B and Rhumba. Lulu’s grand voice is a perfect match to his danceable music style.
Keturah, Agorosso, Earnest Ikwanga and Peter Mawanga seem to be in their own league. They play traditional sounds such as malimba, chisekese, acoustic guitar and traditional drums to produce unique Malawian authentic sound.
Keturah possesses incredible song writing skills that delve into life issues. She has powerful singles such as Munditengere and Nambewe which introduced her to the music industry. The artist recorded her debut album titled Keturah in 2002 at the Hen House Studios in Los Angeles, United States of America (USA).
‘Sir’ Paul Banda is one of the legendary musicians in Malawi who plays unique local music. He is a pioneer of a popular Malawian music identity called Balaka Sound.
It became popular around 1990s with its distinctive elements such as the striking high-pitched lead guitar which is played by ‘Sir’ Paul Banda. Malilime and Ambiri Timalephera are some of the classic local songs released by ‘Sir’ Paul.
As a music producer at the then Imbirani Yahweh (IY) studios in Balaka and Alleluya Band leader, he is regarded as the god-father of Balaka music which has nurtured talents of many Malawian musicians such as the late Lucius Banda, Mlaka Maliro, Billy Kaunda, Paul Subiri, Rod Valamanja and Coss Chiwalo.
Alleluya Band was founded by the Catholic priest Father Mario Pacific around 1976 to promote talent among young Malawians, particularly Catholic youths in Balaka District.
However, music commentator Emmanuel Maliro observed that lack of originality prevents Malawian music from penetrating the international market.
He said: “One reason Malawian music does not excel internationally is that much of the music produced by some of our musicians is not authentic. This is because some of our artists copy genres from elsewhere. For example, reggae is not Malawian, but Jamaican.
“So, no matter how good a Malawian musician can perform reggae, they will always be compared to Jamaican reggae. That is why a Malawian reggae musician may struggle to impress a non-Malawian audience in Canada or France.”
According to Maliro, Malawi has authentic music, but is often referred to as zachimidzi.
“Zachimidzi music is what represents our original sound and that is exactly what the world is looking for. The international audience wants something fresh and different from what they have been hearing for years,” he said.
