![Patwell Phiri - Central Region Poetry Chair]()
Poetry Association of Malawi has asked Government to recognize their skill of poetry as one of the important skills of communicating vital messages to the masses apart from educating and entertaining them.
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![Patwell Phiri - Central Region Poetry Chair]()
Patwell Phiri - Central Region Poetry Chair[/caption]
Patwell Phiri, new Chair for Central Region Poetry Association, a branch of the Poetry Association of Malawi, made the appeal recently in an interview with the Lilongwe News Agency (LINA).
He lamented that the association is not recognized formally by authorities:”We don’t have a Ministry where we can say we belong to, which can be in a position to liaise with us on important issues such as matters to be communicated to the nation, for example disease outbreaks such as cholera, fears of diseases such as Ebola so that people are educated about them through poetry.”
Patwell Phiri said communicating to the masses using poetry has proven to be very effective because everyone love poetry, there is no barrier in poetry, young or old, rich or poor, man or woman, decision makers or ordinary people, they all love poetry hence time to recognize the skill’s contribution to the nation.
“We are happy that many Malawians love poetry, we are happy because the nation does recognize our works as they get entertained, and learn lessons for their lives.
The chair also praised the media especially radio stations such as Nkhoma FM, CAN, Dziko FM that are playing a very important role for the central region poets to reach their fans by airing their poems.
Phiri disclosed that under his leadership they have plans of holding many open shows to interact with their fans and said on January 31, they will hold the first of such shows in Lilongwe.
He paid tribute to the former chair, Imulani Makande, for the success they achieved during his term, among other things, they produced an album known as Chikwatu cha ndakatulo in which features poets such as Robert Chiwamba, Humble C, Arthur Maseko, and is still on the market.
Patwell Phiri, popularly known as Mvangeli Sadzu, also revealed that he, alone, has produced an album on Christian poems.
“For the first time in Malawi, an album on Christian poems has been produced with 20 poems and will soon be on the market,” he disclosed.
He explained that the album known as Uvangeli Woyamba, meaning Utumiki Woyamba, includes poems such as
Ukadzafichana Naye Mwini Swaga, which uses language of the youths.
“I want to attract young people to God, the poem
Ukadzafichana Naye Mwini Swaga talks of what happens when the young people meet Jesus; everything in their life changes. Other poems in the album are
Nampulikishya Kuwawa Satana, a Tumbuka piece
, Osaopa,
Mainjankishoni – the meaning in this one is to say that injunctions started with men of God such as Daniel, who got an injunction from God so that the Lions in the Lion’s den could not devour him. Other titles are
: Pakutwanima kwa diso, Nakonjwa, Ndinu mbambande mai wanga- the last one is dedicated to his mother.
Phiri said he, in his career as one of the champion of poetry, has also conducted a radio competition on poetry where Justice Masangano scooped first position and went away with K20, 000 and to record ten poems free at Gani Records together with those on second and third positions.
To become a member of the Poetry Association of Malawi, one must pay K5, 000 as membership fee.
Phiri advised new poets to come to the association but warned them not to copy others.
“One major problem our fans complain about us is that new poets are copying tones of someone who is already known. Find your own identity.”
Patwell Banda is a radio presenter at Nkhoma FM in Lilongwe, also producer of Lemba la Mlakatuli on the same radio. He is 21 years old and comes from Salima, Sadzu Village, TA Kalonga. He is pursuing a Human Resources Course at Lilongwe Technical College. - LINA
According to Tay Grin, “Chipapapa” will be released on Monday next week.
He said the Lilongwe based DJ Sley produced the song.
Tay Grin, also known as ‘Nyau King’, is Malawi’s top hip hop star and in 2014 he scooped the Best International African gong at the Black Entertainment Film Fashion Television and Arts awards in London.
Born Limbani Kalilani, the rapper said he has always wanted to work with 2Face, saying Chipapapa song is “perfect for both of us.”
“The countdown has begun and very soon you shall hear Chipapapa,” he said.
“We are about to put Malawi on the table with the big boys of music. 2016 is the year Malawi shines,” he said.
Added the rapper: “We need every Malawian to stand proud behind their artists and with one voice we change the industry forever.”
The epic video for the song will be shot next month in South Africa and it promises to be a great visual.
Chechamba[/caption]
According to Chechamba, Malawi music has reached a ‘laughable state’ due to a lack of formal training among the artisans.
His comments come to back the proclamation by reggae musician Limbani Banda that “Malawi music is trash.”
Banda, famous for the hit Chisoni Kumatenda, noted that it will take time for Malawi to establish itself as a country that produces good music.
And Chechamba also pointed out that as much as the young generation of musicians are embracing diversity in their work, they lack a deep understanding of music and originality.
“Yes, there is diversity today, but the music is laughable because it is monotonous in nature,” said Chechamba as quoted by The Nation newspaper.
“ A majority of musicians do not take time to get training in music. As a result, what they sing is repetitive sounds that fall short to be described as music,” he noted, adding that most songs lack basic elements of music such as dynamics, melody, harmony, tone and rhythm.
Currently, according to Chechamba, it is hard to define Malawi music because it is congested with foreign influences such as South African, American and Nigerian touches.
“Today, everyone wants to sing like Nigerians because they have managed to promote their culture aggressively. The same applies to South African music, which has become part of Malawian sounds. But at the end of the day it is the original creators of such types of music that shine and render Malawians useless copycats,” said Chechamba.
Limbani Banda, who is inspired by revered Jamaican reggae icon Peter Tosh and South African reggae musician Lucky Dube, noted that in Malawi, people start singing “because they seek fame and not necessarily because they are talented. But they do not know what is involves to make good music.”.
Music producer Joseph Tembo, former lawmaker, proposes that Malawi should enact “strong laws aimed at protecting artworks”.
Musicians Union of Malawi (MUM) president Reverend Chimwemwe Mhango said the country need “concrete policies” that can help to push local music.
Ernest Makanda: Timveni Radio[/caption]
The organisation also owns Timveni Television which is one of the few stations running on full programming basis.
"Timveni bought Star Radio in August 
The Twist a Blantyre based dance crew[/caption]
Twist came top of the list after being adjudged as the best dancers to win the ultimate prize of K1.5 million in the second edition of the contest, produced by Times TVwith sponsorship from Airtel Malawi.
The only group that had a female member in the finale, which took place at Robins Park, Twist beat five other contenders, their city counterparts Limbanazo Dance Crew and Ikuba, as well as Adobe Dance Crew, Salama Africa Dance Crew and the Incredibles from the capital Lilongwe.
Despite power failures that forced some dance routines to be stopped, the event was thrilling and the dancers came all out not only to please the judges, they also had the floor to entertain the fans that thronged Robins Park.
The six groups battled as they displayed traditional and contemporary moves that on several occasions seemingly left the judges Talumba Chirwa, Jean Chalungama and Rogers Siula in a tight spot.
Spiced up by performances from Dan Lufani, Tay Grin, Piksy and Anne Matumbi, the contest was in two phases and it was the two Lilongwe groups Adobe and Salama up against Twist in the final round which saw the Blantyre crew coming out the best.
Twist Dance Crew also made it to the top six last year but failed to come out top in the finale won by another Blantyre outfit Metics Dance Crew.
Ka Jive dance competition started last year and only involved groups from Blantyre, before the inclusion of Lilongwe in the second season, which had auditions and evictions in both cities.
The regional competition in Lilongwe, representing the central region, had 12 participating groups and at the end of it all three made it to the grand finale, while 22 groups battled in Blantyre, representing the southern region, and after evictions, three made it to the finals.
Piksy: Got the nod for Kora award[/caption]
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Wambali: Kora awards good for Piksy and Malawi music[/caption]
“Getting ominated for an award at the Kora All-Africa Music Awards is no mean feat”, Wambali told Nyasa Times.
The Kora Award is the most prestigious African music award, he noted.
“t is for this reason that Piksy deserves kudos for clinching a nomination at this year’sKora Awards,” stated Wambali.
Piksy got the nod in Best Male Southern Africa category for for the song Moto from his second album “Mnthunzi”.
The Pan African cultural awards ceremony that rewards the finest African talents will be held on March 20 2016 in Windhoek, Namibia.
The award winning musicians also said that the nomination means that Malawian artists are “ developing” and that there are a lot of young people who are doing amazing work .
“This is just endorsing whatever they have been doing, we expect more.”
Piksy is confidenrt that he can come home with the gong.
“ Everything can happen in every competition, if Malawians can vote, I can make it,” he said.
Piksy has a hurdle to surmount though as this category has one of the South Africa’s leading rappers AKA. Other nominees are Gazza from Namibia, Zambia’s Petersen, Angola’s Coreon Du and C4 Pedro.
The Kora Awards are given annually for musical achievement in sub-Saharan Africa and since its inception in 1994, the only other Malawians to have been nominated for the award is Wambali Mkandawire in 2002 and Thoko Katimba in 2012.
To win the award, Piksy will have to beat competition from Angola’s C4 Pedro and Coreon Du, South Africa’s AKA, Zambia’s Petersen and Namibia’s Gazza.
He stands to win K30 million if he triumphs.
The organizers of awards revealed that the winner of the Best Artist of the Continent will receive a grand prize of $1 million (about K600 million) while the category winners will cart home $50 000 (about K30 million).
Blasto to share stage with Piksy[/caption]
Blasto told the Malawi News Agency (Mana) that he will share the stage with Piksy.
"We are expected to leave on 10th February so that we have more time to rehearse with the band. I have other appearances with one of the oldest sound system in South Africa the Jah Crucial hi fi sound," said Blasto.
The ex-seminarian at Mlale said it is time for South Africans to checkout for some authentic reggae and dancehall vibe from the warm heart of Africa.
"I am coming through with that explosive Blasto experience," he said.
He also said after the 14th February show, people should not get worried because he will also have two other shows on 18th and 20th February with Jah Crucial sound system.
Blasto, real name Otis Chilamba, started music when he was at Mlale Seminary before taking it further when he was doing accounting at Mzuzu Technical College and says his brother Mosh D is also a musician.
His first recording in the studio was in 2003 and this was not that serious but it opened up the way because after that he started acting in Lilongwe later at Harry Gibb's place who formed a theatre group.
He then went on to produce a mixtape titled The Unexpected and EP titled Stronger.
Cassper Nyovest: Not coming again[/caption]
This follows a story carried by one of the country’s dailies, The Nation, in its Tuesday issue headlined “Cassper Nyovest returns to Malawi next month”.
The paper reported that the multi-award winning rapper was slated to perform at College of Medicine Sports Complex in Blantyre on March 21.
The report quoted Mango Entertainment director Steve Kamanga as saying “We have finally secured and everything is now set. The contract was signed this week.”
But Mango Entertainment denied they were bringing Cassper back to Malawi following his 2015 tour.
“We would like to formally announce we have have no knowledge of the article printed by the Nation publications this morning stating that Cassper Nyovest will be returning to Malawi for another show next month. If and when a show is arranged between us and Casspers team we will be the first to inform the public.” They announced on their Facebook page.
However, article was the same which the publication carried in February 2015 after the promoters announced Nyovest was to perform in Malawi.
During the 2015 tour, Cassper Nyovest performed in Blantyre at the College of Medicine Sports Complex on March 21 and in Lilongwe at Alexander’s Pub Courtyard on 22 March.
Lucius Banda: I don't want gays at my shows[/caption]
Grajoh Talent Management had hired Lucius Banda alongside Zambia’s Mampi Mukape for a series of shows in UK during Eaaster holidays but the Malawian has been dropped from his controversial statements on homosexuals.
The Balaka North legislator cut short a performance at Zithere Pano in Mangochi on Christmas Eve after he reportedly noticed two men in the audience cuddling and kissing.
The self-acclaimed Soldier of the Poor came under fire from human rights activists who accused him of being homophobic.
Grajoh had demanded Lucius to apologise for anti-gay stance but the musician stood his ground.
And the UK promoters have since terminated their contract with him Lucius Banda and hired other renowned Malawi musicians Lulu, Skeffa Chimoto and Dan Lu.
The artists will tour Manchester, Leicester and London from March 26 to April 02.
“[They] will perform along Uganda’s Lily Kyeyune & Jamal Wasswa and Zambia’s Mampi Mukape,” Johnson Mujungu of Grajoh confirmed,
The tour is dubbed ‘Easter Fusion’ and Lulu said he is “thrilled” to return to the UK after his first performance in 20009 with Licius Banda’s Zembani Band.
“ It’s always sensational connecting with the fans out there,” Lulu said.
While disclosing they were currently working on visas, Skeffa said: “I’m ready for it. This is something big considering there will be a lot of artists from different countries.”
Acccoridng to Grajoh, the Malawi artists will perform alongside popular Ugandan artists Robert Kyagulanyi aka 
Zomba Prison Project nominated for the Grammys.[/caption]
The 2016 Grammys take place in Los Angeles, in United States on 15 February.
Brennan, who worked with convicts in the Zomba Prison Band, producing the album "I have no everything here" said the group will not be part of the audience when the results are announced at America’s biggest music awards, shortlisted for Best World Music Album
The Zomba prisoners band will compete at the star-studded eventa gainst Anoushka Shankar’s Home, Ladysmith Black Mambazo’s Music From Inala, Angelique Kidjo’s Sings and Gilberto Gil’s Gilbertos Samba Ao Vivo.
The band, many of whom are serving life sentences for murder wrote and recorded an album, I Have No Everything Here, in 2013 before releasing it last January, with songs including the deeply personal likes of “Don’t Hate Me”, “Prison of Sinners”, “I See the Whole World Dying of AIDS” and “Please, Don’t Kill My Child”.
Brennan who visited the band members in Zomba last week aid he is encouraged with “beautiful” press coverage for the band though he pointed out that has not necessarily resulted in more sales for the Zomba Prison Project music.
“International recordings that are not in English or Spanish sell very little, but hopefully a win could generate some additional sales,” he said.
“People around the globe have been very moved and captivated by Malawi and the prisoners’ story—BBC, Rolling Stone, Associated Press, Business Insider, The Guardian and New York Daily News, among others,” he said.
The Zomba Prison Project Music are the first Malawian musicians to be nominated at the prestigious Grammys.
Lost in the rythm_ Season 1 national winner Sam Mjumira treats the audience with some of his renditions. Pic by Brian Itai,Mana.[/caption]
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Airtel's Elias Imaan, his brand is keen to expose and celebrate creative talent. Pic by brian Itai,Mana.[/caption]
During the initial voyage, Malawi registered a whopping 30,000 plus auditions and at the end of it all the ultimate national prize kitty of MK14 million was scooped by Sam Mjura who went on to represent the country in the Pan African finals in Kenya.
Airtel’s Sales and Distribution Director Elias Imaan who spoke during the colourful launch at Golden Peacock Hotel in Lilongwe said Airtel believes the passion for music is one of the core attributes to Malawi and Africa as a whole.
“Music is a language that knows no borders and with this competition, Airtel is keen to expose and celebrate the creative talent that will be championed, exposed and rewarded, “said Imaan.
From the competition, the talents which will come out tops locally will then compete with top talents from other Airtel operating countries across Africa for the final accolade of best African music talent to be held in Lagos, Nigeria mid this year.
During the launch of the 2 season, Airtel announced that the competition’s top three winners will share a cool K15 million cash prize, with the overall winner pocketing K10 million with the second and third runners up walking away with MK3 million and MK2 million respectively.
The grand prize for the overall Pan African winner comprises a mentorship programme with multi-award winning American singer-songwriter Keri Hilson in Atlanta on top of a recording contract with a major record label.
During the launch, first season winner Mjura, who finished in the final top 6 in the Pan African contest, entertained the patrons with a spirited performance by dishing out some tunes which endeared him to music lovers during the first season.
Airtel subscribers can audition via mobile phones by dialing 59911. The first minute of the submission will be free of charge and thereafter a cost of K50 will be charged on every minute.
The audition lines will remain open until the 27th March after which the voting process will begin.