Music Crossroads Malawi has formed an all-female member band aimed at motivating females to venture into the music industry.
Established early this month, the six-member band is set to rock Malawi when it kick-starts music shows across the country.
“Our research from newspapers showed that female participation in art is very low most especially in music. This, we suppose, is because the environment is not conducive for girls or females in general. Venues for shows, like bars, are not friendly to the female folk.
“Yet outside Malawi, most of the wealthy musicians are females like Beyonce, Rihanna, Madonna and Mariah Carey, among many others. We, therefore, started doing a model group that will inspire other girls in the country to venture into music. They will indeed motivate others as all the girls are playing instruments that they are comfortable with,” said Music Crossroads director Matthews Mfune.
However, he said at the moment Music Crossroads has no source of funding to support the band.
“Just to show how serious we are with the Daughters’ Band, we have clinched an agreement with international experts that will see volunteers coming from Norway to help the girls,” explained Mfune.
The band will be led by Music Crossroads long time member and the first girl to record an album with the firm, Prisca Nkariyaringa, who plays the bass guitar.
“From January to June we sent her to Norway to learn more about music where she also did a management course. She is now a fully fledged musician and pianist.
“We are tapping from her experience and expertise to inspire her bandmates and others. We are assured of nothing but the best from her and colleagues who are talented and have the zeal to do the best and excel.”
Other band members are Cynthia Phiri on lead and bass guitar, Felistas Phiri on lead vocals ,Phalyce Kumdana on bass guitar, Chrissy Kaunde on piano and keyboard, and Kester Phiri on drums.
Doing Afro-jazz, traditional and rock music, the Daughters’ Band was formed on 1st August and so far, three Chichewa songs have been composed.
