Musician fighting gender-based violence

Gender based-violence (GBV) has been a serious concern and it mostly affects women across societies.

It also takes many forms, affecting people in various ways.

The story of musician Nyago is motivating as she fights for the voiceless.

Her birth names are Lucy Gondwe, with Nyago being a stage name.

“Nyago s short for Nya Gondwe, a respective way of referring to a female adult. It also means, Nya[nyamuka]-Go[zipita],” she said.

The name is symbolic because it encourages victims of abuse to leave their situations.

“Stay away from any form of abuse, especially when you are not needed and move on. Yes it hurts, but you would rather heal than keep going in pain to please people who don’t even care about your existence,” she said.

Nyago, a GBV survivor admitted that she realised very late that the abuse happened to her because she didn’t know about the rights she has over her body and lack of information.

Through her story, she has interacted with many women who are going through different types of abuses.

She encourages them to take the huge step of leaving and is proud that many people have learnt from her.

“Some of them leave and others make up with their partners and live happily ever after because I don’t only teach them independence, but also help them build their relationships if necessary.

“And I help some with ideas on how to start small businesses depending on the capital they can manage to raise,” she said.

Nyago also teaches women that speaking up is powerful because it helps to heal, unlike keeping things to oneself as it may lead to suicidal thoughts.

Her role models are Oprah Winfrey, Whitney Houston, Martin Luther King, Nina Simon and Michelle Obama.

In future, she has plans to build a safe house for abused women.

“I’ve already bought a land, but I have to save for the buildings as the land can take up to 13 safe houses,” she said.

The singer claimed her father ‘sold’ her and her mother as chikole (collateral) to a village in a country she refused to disclose when she was about 10 years old.

“My father owed money and when he failed to repay, he took us to that village where we stayed for some years. By the grace of God, we returned home through the help of well wishers,” she said.

Upon her return, Nyago claimed she was raped and impregnated.

Her family chased her from home and she allegedly lived on the streets.

After delivery, the musician returned home, but claimed she was treated like an outcast as she “embarrassed and disgraced her Christian family.”

Later, she went to South Africa, but lived on the streets too after her auntie who was supposed to take her in allegedly rejected her last minute.

While there, she started creating things and decorations from trash to sell for a living.

“After picking myself up, I got married to an abusive man whom I later divorced. I returned home and started a new life by singing about my pain and trauma,” she said.

The singer said she wants people to own over their bodies.

She said: “We all deserve to be treated with love and dignity. Don’t do unto others what you wouldn’t want them do unto you. Love purely not because you want to benefit something from someone.”

Nyago said one can use any skill to start a small business to stay away from depression.

“I have gone through so much abuse in my life that it became normal. I know how it feels to be abused by a lover. I have an upcoming book titled Enough where I am talking about my life,” she said.

She confessed that music has helped her rise from the ashes.

Nyago writes and sings about her life experiences, the trauma she faced and what people face in society.

“I sing all the time even when am quite, I sing in my head. Music puts food on my table,” she added.

Her deep voice and the rhythm of her music will take one deep into meditation while appreciating the lyrics coming from deep down her heart.

The songbird sings about hope, the evils of abuse and the joy of overcoming abuse.

Said Nyago:” I never knew I would be a singer. It is funny how the universe works. I started singing in 2012 while in South Africa. I rebranded from ‘Trizah Titus’ to ‘Nyago’.”

Her favourite place is on stage performing music because that’s where she can heal many and she enjoys sharing that moment with everyone around her.

“I use music to speak to people because that’s the only way I can communicate to a large scale. I will continue to heal, giving people the joy and love through my music,” she said.

She acknowledges all people who have helped her in any away to achieve her goals.

The hardest decision she ever made was accepting her spiritual calling, but describes it as beautiful.

“I also contested for Miss Malawi South Africa two months after giving birth to my second child some years back and I was second princess, which was a dream come true.

“If you have a dream, go for it because you are the only one who can translate your dreams better than anyone else,” she said.

In her free time, the artist meditates and prays.

When not doing music, she sometimes makes stools, chairs charcoal, outfits and decorations from waste such as old tyres, plastics and bottles.

Nyago did her primary school at many schools, including Zolo-zolo and Chiputula primary schools.

She went to Chibavi Community Day, Mbapapi Private and Katoto secondary schools.

To all people going through abuse, she encourages everyone to never lose hope.

“No matter the situation you are in, never lose hope. Life is a journey and you are the driver of your life so be in control until you make it to where you want to be,” she said.