Wambali Mkandawire’s memorial on February 11

One year after his death, a group of musicians have come together to pay their tributes to fallen local jazz maestro Mtebeti Wambali Mkandawire.

Led by Bishop Chimwemwe Mhango, the group, which comprises Rudo Chakwera, Sangwani Munthali, Willy Soko, Grecium Mokwena, Erik Paliani, Dan Sibale, Amos Mulolowa, Sam Shawa and Chambota Chirwa, have also produced a nine-minute medley of some of Mkandawire’s songs.

The song was released yesterday and was followed by memorial prayers, which held at Mkandawire’s home in Chitipi in Lilongwe. A video of the medley, which contains seven songs composed by Wambali, has also been produced.

Mhango, who is acting as the coordinator of the project, said a memorial concert to celebrate the life of the artist, who died last year on January 31 due to Covid-19, will be held on February 11 at Crossroads Hotel in Lilongwe.

“The event will be a celebration of his life. We would like to continue seeking comfort from our heavenly father and commit his family to the Lord in a special way as you know it’s not easy to come to terms with what happened,” he said.

Mhango said Wambali was a unique artist and he is praying that God should bless the nation with another artist with such a talent.

He said: “Wambali was Wambali. He was world class. He promoted his cultural and traditional values while maintaining his Christianity.

“He loved peace and always spoke his mind. He never took anything to be easy, but was so disciplined to realise his dreams. I worked and performed with him and I discovered that he was indeed a man of God.”

Wambali’s manager Engineer Viyumbiko Mumba said the tribute by his fellow artists talks of the huge impact that the music icon had on the people he worked with that’s why it was hard for them to let the day pass by.

Mumba said: “In 2007 he was recognised by the World Intellectual Property Organisation for his unique sound. By then he was the only artist in this part of Africa to get such a recognition. No wonder he left a huge mark on all who worked with him.” Wambali is considered as one of the greatest singer and composers to come from Malawi. The artist made his mark both in Malawi and beyond through his albums such as Zani Muone and Calabrash Breath.