Wambali authors music book

Wambali Mkandawire might be known as an Afro-jazz musician, but, as some literary gurus will be interested to know, the musician has got the face of an author.

He has put himself on a list of writers with a book on music. The book is presently with his publisher.

According to information The Nation has sourced, the book analyses music in Malawi and lays bare how various music genres have failed to grow due to copycats in the industry.

When contacted for comment, Wambali confirmed about the project, but asked the literary fraternity to wait until the publisher unveils the book to the public if they are to know of the finer details.

The 2003 South African Music Awards Best African Artiste said he is presently preoccupied with his Calabrash Breath album launch such that he is not in a position to give details of the book.

“It’s not that I have authored this book today. I wrote it a long time ago. Now it is with my publisher. You may contact him if you want more information.

“Presently, I am busy with the album launch. I am not in a position to give any information. My publisher will give all information pertaining to this book at an opportune time,” he said, while refusing to disclose the publisher.

Wambali is, however, not new in the publishing industry. He has a registered publishing company called Kajimete Arts Publishing.

Last month, Wambali announced that he is releasing Calabrash Breath to be launched on Saturday, to break his silence from public performances since his retirement in 2007.

This means the 2002 Kora Award nominee will also have to maintain his public appearance in the form of an author.

Wambali is the holder of the 2002 World Intellectual Property Organisation (Wipo) Award for Creativity, the first time this award has ever been made to an African artiste.

He has studied for a diploma in Biblical Cross-Cultural Musicology in UK in 1989. He is based in Mzuzu rural as a pastor.