Temwa gondwe: award winning musician for 2023

Temwa Gondwe, widely recognised by her stage name Temwah, stands out as a prominent Malawian afro-jazz singer and songwriter who has garnered a growing following in the entertainment circles over the past years.

She has become a household name, celebrated for her captivating amapiano melodies.

The singer, born on August 18 1997, developed her love for music at the young age of 13.

Now, she has graced national media and Malawian television screens, leaving a mark on stages such as the Lake of Stars in 2019.

In 2023, the Ndilikuti hitmaker achieved a significant milestone by winning the Maso Awards Best Female Artist of the Year and also the MBC Female Secular Artist of the Year.

Reacting to the awards, she expressed happiness: “I am overwhelmed by these awards, I feel blessed and honoured to receive recognition while still alive.

“This marks the first time I’ve been acknowledged through awards in my music career and I am genuinely grateful.”

Temwa said the recognition motivated her to working harder as she knows the support from fans.

“I will ensure to deliver more good music this year,” she emphasized.

Temwa described her journey as a roller-coaster, acknowledging that there were moments when she felt like quitting.

However, she has found beauty in persistence and focus, becoming a role model for other young artists.

Hailing from a musical family with uncles who play instruments, none pursued music as a career initially.

This led to resistance from family and friends when she began, as music wasn’t considered a serious career.

Despite the challenges, Temwa persevered until she started gaining recognition.

“I remember starting music as a career while also attending school. I had to work hard on both fronts, but I’ve witnessed my growth from doing covers to recording and becoming a performing artist on various stages,” she said.

The musician acknowledges the support of those who helped in the growth of her music, including former manager Lorraine KIjajic and current manager Temwa Luhanga.

“They have consistently had my back, even during moments when I wanted to step back. I recall praying for days like these when I embarked on my musical journey. I’ve faced challenges, particularly social media bullying, which was a significant setback. However, I’ve always relied on prayer to move forward,” she said.

Temwa said it is fulfilling to witness people across Malawi appreciating her music and it brings her joy.

She said her father wanted her to become a model and Miss Malawi, but she saw herself as a musician while growing up.

She is passionate about music which serves as a form of expression.

After a decade in the industry, she observed that Malawian music has evolved beautifully as more people are now engaging with online music platforms to stream.

This, she noted, is a shift from the past, providing significant exposure to artists.

“Artists are exploring different genres and breaking barriers through diverse collaborations outside Malawi, putting our country on the map,” she added.

The award winner revealed she doesn’t follow a specific routine for crafting her music.

She varies, sometimes inspired by life experiences and other times by ideas, drawing inspiration from different sources.

Temwa also shared the story behind her hit song Ndilikuti, inspired by a trip to the studio with her nieces for the first time and the youngest asked, “aunt, kodi ndilikuti?”

She is delighted that Malawians embraced it.

To thrive in the industry, she emphasized the importance of selling her brand.

This involves not only promoting her music, but also showcasing uniqueness through performances with dancers.

She aims to create music that energizes and resonates with her fans.

Temwa encourages aspiring female artists to be positive and prove detractors wrong.

She further observed that balancing career and personal life poses another challenge as personal matters can intertwine with one’s professional journey.

She also empathizes with societal perception of female musicians, often unfairly viewed as morally corrupt.

This sentiment is heartbreaking, as she believes being a female musician is just like any other career.

Temwa said being morally corrupt is just a character that one has, a lawyer can have that character too, but this myth hinders many talented folks from joining the industry for fear of being called names.

“I would like to encourage parents with children talented in the arts to support them because art these days is rewarding.

“Artists should never give up on their craft, but strive to perfect their talents and work hard until it is flawless,” narrated the singer.

In addition to her music career, Temwa is a philanthropist and founder of He Matters Foundation.

This is a non-governmental organisation dedicated to nurturing, unlocking the full potential and educating boys, modern men of substance, with self-confidence.

The foundation aims to instill an understanding and adherence to rights with responsibility.

She said she was motivated to create this space because most initiatives are fighting for girls, neglecting boys.

“Considering that many abused victims are women and girls, I envisioned creating

a platform where boys and men can come together to voice their experiences and work towards addressing the root causes. My hope is that in future, we can significantly reduce or eliminate abuse,” she explained.

The successful artist firmly believes that her initiative is making a positive impact, especially in light of the increasing suicide cases, predominantly among men who often struggle to voice their issues.

The platform provides them with an opportunity to express themselves and speak out.

“We provide various programmes , incl u d i n g entrepreneurship, arts and crafts, and mental health.

“Unfortunately, this year, we are not in operation due to funding constraints, but we will surely re-start soon. We invite all well-wishers and stakeholders who want to make a difference to join hands with us,” she added.

At her organisation, she also uses her music as a tool to empower the youth and encourage the boys to express themselves through art.

Temwa strongly believes in the transformative power of music as a catalyst for social change.

Last year, during Mother’s Day, as new mother, she partnered with Elite Real Estate Properties Limited to donate assorted items, including laundry soap, Likuni Phala, Sobo squash and disposable nappies to mothers at the Ethel Mutharika wing in celebrating motherhood.

The talented singer said every new mother has needs and to have someone reaching out is a blessing, that’s why she reached out.

Currently, she is not signed by any record label and has a team consisting her manager and dancers who make the magic work during her performances.

To all aspiring women who want to make a mark in the music industry, she advises them to dream big and become unstoppable while staying true to themselves because it is not easy out there.

She has collaborated with esteemed Malawian urban artists such as Lulu, Eric Paliani, Fredokiss and Lucius Banda.

Temwa has consistently delivered high-standard music that not only entertains, but also educates both the younger and older generations.

The singer is also a beauty therapist who owns a saloon in Area 49, Lilongwe where she is based.

She grew up in the city and comes from Rumphi.

Temwa is the last born in a family of three and holds a degree in human resource management from the Malawi Assemblies of God University.

Her favourite moment in her career is when she won the MBC award because she prayed to win, so to finally receive it was heart-warming.

In her free time, she enjoys family time, cooking for her husband and sipping on her red wine as her favourite thing when she is not doing music