Ethno music is important everywhere

Over the weekend, Music Crossroads Malawi organised the Ethno Music Camp that brought together talents from different countries scattered across three different venues, namely Pakwathu Entertainment Hub in Area 23, Chingalire Cultural Centre and Mabeya’s hub. At Chingalire Cultural Centre, the audience enjoyed performances from Ethno Malawi, the Ghost Note Band, Ben Michael and the Zigzaggers Band with Jenna Sisters, Goba and the Legends Band. Our reporter WANTWA MWAMLIMA had a chat with renowned musician Ben Michael Mankhamba who shared his thoughts on bringing back and promoting traditional song composition and dances. Excerpts:

Q

: How significant is this year’s Ethno Music Camp?

A

: Every ethnic group has its culture and traditions that define who those people are and what customs represent these two for them. Talk about the way people dress within that culture, what they eat, how they dance and their songs all these are part of culture and tradition. So, ethno music is about celebrating the way of life of different cultures in various countries through music. For example, as Malawians we are known for our own genres of music and dances coming together and sharing this with others means we are appreciating the diversity that is present within our cultures.

Q

: What does it mean that we can globally celebrate the unique cultures and traditions across the world through such events?

A

. The world has changed. We are living in a global world where as much as we have different races, ethnic groups, cultures and traditions, we are one now and we need to be sharing with others and learn from others and their way of doing things, while they learn from our ways of doing the same things. This helps because, for example, as an artist I have to go to Brazil through these camps, I will have an idea of how people do things in Brazil making it easy for me to blend in within their culture. Otherwise, sometimes things go wrong because you don’t understand the culture or tradition of the county you are in. It is important that these events should be hosted now and then so that we are able to promote our own culture, as we learn from others.

Q

: How can the new generation of musicians benefit from an event like Ethno Music especially?

A

: Currently, if an artist says has been booked for a performance outside Malawi, if you do not carry or represent anything from your culture, they think you are a lost musician because you do not know your identity. So, it is very much important that our artists know their identity. I don’t mean to say they should become traditional composers, but at least they must know their roots and these elements should be reflected in their music. It is even key to note that as the world is changing, music is also changing and most new musicians are adopting other various genres which is all good considering the times we are in. But they should hold on to their identity and not forget their roots as they aim to appear before global stages. So, to all visionary musicians who want to go far and keep it Malawian, let them hold on to their roots.

Q

: How can you rate traditional compositions as of now?

A

: Traditional compositions are slowly dying and we need to start promoting artist in this genre before they vanish. There are even cultural dance troops in various villages which are also dying. Those are the roots of our cultures and traditions and they should be promoted. Something has to be done before we lose talents that help us carry our identity.

Q

: But what exactly can be done to bring back this lost glory of traditional compositions?

A

: Various key players should come in to start promoting artists who do traditional compositions, they are there. The corporate world can also come in to help promote these talents so that together we can keep our culture alive through preservation of traditional music which reminds us of who we are, but also informs the new generation about our culture. We have a few artists who are active and composing traditional songs, but we can start encouraging them so that they can continue with the preservation of culture through their music.