Reggae for water

Armed with just a guitar, a change of clothes and love for his people and country, Malawi’s own international protest singer, Jimmy Chiozo is making history. He is walking on foot from Cape to Cairo, interacting with people, raising awareness on water and its rights.

The 18000 kilometers journey will take him to 10 countries in south, east all the way to North Africa.

“I began my journey in Cape Town and walked a total of 1000 kilometre via Cape Agulhas until Jeffreys Bay. While at Jeffreys Bay I got news of the passing of my mother in Mchinji and I had to come,” said the artist in an interview.

Now in Malawi he has decided to do the Malawian leg, while sorting out family issues. The Blantyre–Karonga, 985-kilometre journey begun on November 2 at around 6 am.

“The journey will go through Namadzi, Zomba, Domasi, Machinga, Liwonde, Mangochi, Monkey Bay, Chipata, Salima, Nkhotakota, Chintheche, Nkhata Bay, Mzuzu, Ekwendeni, Rumphi and finally in Karonga. All I want to achieve is peace and unity, more development and less politics, a higher vibration through water consciousness.

“It’s a chance to take care of my family, reconnect with my friends in the music industry and push our country and our music forward. Water issues will bring us together no matter who we are, and we will establish love and respect. With God’s help Malawi will be a leading economy in the world because we have love, unity and fresh water, the most expensive commodity on the planet,” he explained.

By November 14, Chiozo is expected to be in Lilongwe where he has lined up a number of activities.

“I will have a Bwannabees show at Chameleons, launch of Ovations campaign for water issues at Mchinji District Hospital as well as signing of letter inviting President Peter Mutharika to walk with Chiozo for one kilometre in support of Malawian water issues.

The Bwannabees is the name of my band derived from the Wannabe Bwanas. I perform with Callum from Scotland on bass, Ian from Belgium on drums and Chris badger from Malawi on blues harp. We play blues, rock, reggae and punk. We have exciting new material such as Sir Bob Geldoff is Not Invited—a song which champions a new approach to fundraising for African food crisis,” he said.

Throughout the journey, Chiozo will walk and play his guitar meeting people, writing new songs and always talking about water, water resources, water quality but above all water rights.

However, his dream has been hit with unfulfilled pledges of sponsorship from different people and organisations.

“Major sponsorship in Malawi is not necessary because the people of the warm heart of Africa are open and welcoming. Furthermore they more than understand the urgency of the cause so it’s easy to come across to communities. In Malawi it’s all about One Love. I have had no sponsorship just a lot of empty promises and time wasters but a lot of support from common people especially white south Africans who love my rock n roll.

“All South Africans are wonderful but the Afrikaans people were exceptional. They understood me instantly. I have many musicians and other professionals around the world waiting on my plan to succeed.

They are called the 10 Billion Dollar Team. They cover different aspects of A 10 Billion Dollar Plan to challenge The World Bank and The IMF on policy relating to water rights,” he said.

Once done with the Malawi leg, Chiozo will go back to South Africa to continue his journey.

“I will continue walking from Jeffreys Bay in January, then I will do the Zimbabwe, Zambia and Malawi. From here I will cross to Tanzania, Kenya, Ethiopia, Sudan then Egypt. I should be done with the Cape to Cairo walk in two and a half years from now,” he stated.

Chiozo says he is just a Bob Marley and Hendrix student, who is a guitarist, songwriter and vocalist with 20 years of doing reggae.

“I have 14 albums only one official release because I have long term publishing plans. Titled In My Father’s House and to be released soon, it is a reflection of the kind of reggae I do, the Ziggy Marley type.

Pop with roots and rock influence as well as radio friendly,” he explained.