Namasalima Singers back to life

They recoiled into silence after hogging the airwaves on the wings of their accapela classic Fulumirani Yehova in 1987, but failed to hold on for a little longer.

Formed in 1980, Namasalima Singers have cut back on their hiatus with the release of Yesu Alamulilerecorded in Mozambique in January.

In an interview, co-founder Jimmy Katoma said the Seventh Day Adventist group originally from Namasalima in Mulanje district has decided to spring back to fill the gap created by their lengthy leave.

“We discovered that some performers took advantage of our silence and started claiming to be Namasalima Singers. It is so sad they were cheating people. Just last year and early this year, we have caught two groups performing live, clad in a uniform resembling ours and mimicking us,” he said.

Katoma co-founded the group with the late Zakaliya Bakayawo as well as Jones and Yotam Mcherenga. After Bakayawo’s death seven years ago, Katoma and Yotam went to work in South Africa where they continued singing in churches and composed some of the numbers on the new CD.

They have since returned—joining a new-look six-member group which is rising from a near death chapter blighted by financial woes.

Before their departure, Namasalima was in the league of high-flying acapella outfits along with Joyful Souls.