Skeffa’s rise and rise

Skeffa Chimoto is ranked among Malawi’s top musicians at the moment. His albums shake the Malawi music market. From a Nkhotakota village choir boy to a young man selling various items in Lilongwe streets before being introduced to the world of music where he basks in glory, Chimoto’s journey continues. Could the Chinamuluma Chakuda creator be harbouring dreams for Parliament? Kondwani Kamiyala writes:

He is right-handed. You would expect him to hold the microphone in his right hand most of the time as he belts out the tunes. He doesn’t. He uses the left hand most.

Skeffa Chimoto thinks that is what gives him more power on the stage.

“I mostly hold the mic using my left hand. The right hand brings out the emotions in me. The anger, joy and happiness I express in my music is conveyed, not only through the lyrics but also the gestures,” says Chimoto, whose 2006 chart-busting Nabola Moyo surprised many when it sold 150 000 copies—strange for a new-comer.

For his energetic dance antics, some have called him the Dancing Machine. Yet, it is Skeffa’s lyrical content that has pushed him from an unknown artist, whose debut album Wekha was not heard far beyond the Metal Jive Studios it was produced.

His music is more for the ear. Take, for instance, Uzingopenya:

Uzingopenya poti maso alibe mpanda/Koma ukazitengera, udzazisiya/Zilipo zambiri, zina ukaona, kamba anga mwala/Uzidikirire udekhe ugwire mtima/Poti masiku ano kunja kwaopsa/Ndidzalira mwana wanga wafa ali khanda/Koma sudzabwerera omwewo ndi ulendo

Love is central in his music. Love for the country, for a lover and parents. If love is central in his music, love for parents, expressed in such songs as Nabola Moyo, is the epicentre of his music.

Born in 1981, Skeffa became the first born in a family of 8 by default, as the baby born before him died soon after birth in 1980.

“I was christened Skeffa after my grandfather. I don’t know why,” Skeffa looks back.

Growing up in his Nkhotakota home village, where he was a renowned choir boy at Nkhumbwe CCAP, was a hustle. That can only be explained by words in his song …

Anabadwira banja losauka/Makolo akenso osaphunzira/M’mudzi muno adachita kupempha malo…

Life was so hard in the village that in 2001, he trekked with his father to Salima, then Lilongwe. They had nothing but a sewing machine, and stayed at a relative’s place at Chinsapo. Here his father, a tailor, produced hats, which Skeffa carried from Chinsapo to the Lilongwe city streets from where, during harder times, he would proceed to Area 18 selling the hats.

As business advanced, they moved out of the relative’s house to rent a K350 house in Chinsapo. According to the musician, music remained central to his life and towards the end of 2001 he came across someone selling a keyboard at K5 500. He convinced his father, who shared his musical belief, to buy the keyboard.

“He was reluctant at first, as it was a matter of getting the keyboard or starving. But he later agreed,” he recalls.

With that keyboard, he spurred to learn the notes and codes of the black and white keys under the tutelage of Charles Nsaku’s brother Dave.

“I sold a hat to go to Nsaku’s show and while there, I asked Dave what it takes to be a musician. That is how I started getting keyboard lessons from Dave at a fee,” he says.

His father approached music and dance guru Bernard Kwilimbe who was then deputy director of arts and culture in the Ministry of Culture. Kwilimbe owned the Rain Seekers and Patience Band, which has now transformed into Mafuko Band and is run by his son Apatsa.

It is at Patience Band that Skeffa had the first taste of playing for a band.

Kwilimbe recalls: “He came with his keyboard. He is one of the artists that have passed through the two bands. The other time, on a trip to Tanzania for the Music Crossroads contest, he was one of the backing vocalists as well as a frontman. I am happy that today he is involved in production, composition and singing as well.”

For Skeffa, Patience Band was the springboard, as band mates discovered in him a new voice, as he mimicked with agility Mlaka Maliro’s songs. He recalls a performance at Bunda College, where patrons went agog when he performed.

“I was paid K1 500 and from that I gave my mother K200 which she used to buy a portrait of Christ,” says Skeffa, a father to two-year old Mwayi.

It is at this time that he recorded Wekha with   producer Chris Kele, who is now in South Africa.

In 2003, his rising profile did not miss the ears of the elder Nsaku who roped him into his Ali Kutauni Sounds as a keyboardist and vocalist. He did not stay long there, as he joined Stanley Mthenga’s Sena Jive Vibrations.

Two years down the line, he joined the Health Education Band which is under the Ministry of Health. To date, he is a civil servant and member of the band.

A turn in his fortunes came in 2006 when a friend introduced him to Lovemore Mwanyama, who owned Eclypse Records. Eclypse wanted a keyboardist and Skeffa was taken on board. It is here that he learned a new skill: music production.

“It is here that I produced my first song, Bwenzi Langa Yesu. This is where I worked on my second album, Nabola Moyo. The album’s success was so overwhelming,” says Skeffa.

But every beautiful day ends into a dark night. Skeffa had his dark night when he released his third album, Tisawanyoze, in 2008. This was a flop and skeptics wrote Skeffa off. Yet, he showed that even the darkest of days ends into beautiful dawn.

He rose from the ashes with his fourth album Ndife Amodzi in 2010. With such songs as Thandi (a dedication to his wife Thandi with whom he tied the knot in 2009), Skeffa was back on his two feet.

Forming his own band, the Real Sounds Band in 2010 was one of the landmarks in his life. The band boasts of Evalisto Chimoto, Thomas Phiri and Milward Chimoto on backing vocals, Philip Chavula on drums, Mtunduwatha Thom and Lusyayo Palinji on keyboards, Yohane Kachambo on lead guitar and Isaiah Foss who is also the band leader on bass guitar.

The other day, the band was performing at Katete in Zambia’s Eastern Province. The hall was jam-packed, evidence that Skeffa is breaking grounds in the country.

His fame in the country grew further when the Zambian police was touched by the message in his Ndife Amodzi, which calls for unity no matter the different political parties they belong to.

“It was in 2011 when the Zambians were having their general elections. The police were touched with the message in Ndife Amodzi so they asked me to compose a song with a similar theme. The song, Tikondane, became more of an anthem in the pre-elections period there,” said Skeffa, who now drives a Toyota Prado.

It is a known fact that when some Malawian musicians grow wings, political ambitions start crowding their heads. Lucius Banda, Billy Kaunda, Joseph Tembo and Bauleni Manna aka Dr Crowd became parliamentarians leaning on their popularity on the music scene.

A couple of weeks ago, a post on social media announced: “Chamuluma chakuda Skeffa Chimoto. He has lost MCP primaries in Nkhotakota.”

Skeffa denied it.

“I never contested. I have been busy performing and I don’t know why someone could cook up stories I was going into politics. It’s a lie,” said Skeffa.

According to him, his eyes are set on the future. And this New Year he focuses on going further internationally.

“My eyes are set on Botswana and Namibia where demand for my music is growing,” said Skeffa.