Namadingo rolls in the deep
He is arguably loved by all and sundry in the music echelons and it would not be folly to speculate that he was put on earth for the sole purpose of giving entertainment. He is often misunderstood, but given time, he will win everyone over.
Musically, he is witty and comical and often uses thespian phrases that no one gets to connect to the gospel milieu at face value.
Only critical minds grasp the encrypted message at once, but still his simplistic approach, his silky voice and perfect delivery make it up.
The music extraordinaire, Malawian unconventional Afro-gospel prodigy, Patience Namadingo is living up to his new image as the country’s music game changer with his continued sophisticated and plausible ear-pleasing harmonies and mind-blowing lyrical undertones.
The Msati Mseke hit-maker is a full package and his music exploits put him ahead of his time. The diminutive songster is rolling in the deep and quickly pushing the Malawi music game far-and-beyond the barricade with each new composition that he makes.
The compelling narrative for Namadingo’s music—from early compositions such as Mfumu Kale and Mtendere through to Msati Mseke to Macheza, Namadingo has created a league of his own and is fast pushing all those pouting rebellious and unappreciative souls and tyrannical high-trousered haters who defied the truth—as now it seems that it was all written on the walls of destiny before he had even recorded a note.
In an interview, the soft-spoken entertainer explains that largely it is his attitude to music that makes a difference, saying it makes him happy to see appreciative listeners.
“Some would choose circumstances, perhaps saying I would be happy if I get rich out of music or be more famous, but in reality, though, attitude oftentimes trumps circumstances when it comes to happiness,” he says.
Namadingo believes that in music, both for the artist and the listener, happiness is good medicine.
Malawi UK-based Film and TV Audiences Scholar and communications specialist Dr Joseph Chimbuto says Namadingo is one musician in Malawi who connects with the souls of the people, classifying his music as deep and stuff made of legend.
“I have to confess that I’m not a fan of gospel music, but having listened to Namadingo, I am impressed for he communicates to the audiences well. As an expert in audience studies, I have problems with the way most gospel music is used as a medium to evangelise to the masses and poignantly they disinterest masses,” explains Chimbuto, a former Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) journalist.
Namadingo new thought-provoking hit song, Mozimila is cavernous for an average to comprehend.
The song is pure and simple, but full of wisdom as the message is deriving from a collection of adages and it can only be Namadingo who can do that—blending the secular and the word together in a danceable arrangement for somewhat a gospel song to be appreciated across the divide.
It is with this ‘coming of age’ hit single that the Lilongwe born and bred music act launches himself perhaps as a new version of a younger Wambali Mkandawire.
The Mozimila video is artistically ambitious with its concept so simple and easy to relate to the message of the song, but the production sophisticated and overambitious and the use of the shooting location completes the storyline.
The jazzy buzzcuts, the drums, the naked bodies playing instruments under water and the outstanding voice coming in from the cold suggest that Namadingo is a complete artist and he greatly enjoys his freedom like a domesticated uncaged bird.
The song starts as a delicate flute-voiced guitar ballad and surges forward with an almost military snare while the lyrics brims with crooking emotion and seriousness of the words of the elders blended with the gospel.
Mozimila is sumptuously produced and perfectly sung, with just enough intrigue. If it lacks personality, there are signs—especially on the dubby neo-soul of ‘truth’ and ‘honesty’—that he is in the process of developing one perhaps the only drawback is that the song does not have a chorus for those who love to ‘dance in the Lord.’
Commenting on Namadingo’s music, renowned poet Nyamalikitiki Nthiwatiwa says he has always known of the artist’s potential from his first album, but in the latest offering, he has shown a sense of maturity that his music is no longer a hobby, but a vocation. n
