The artistic life of Giddes Chalamanda has probably run its full circle. The fortunes and privileges that have fallen his way are the ones many can only admire.
The seasoned musician has touched dreams which he never thought possible. I could list them here, but what quickly comes to mind is his trip to United States of America facilitated by fellow artists Edgar ndi David several years ago.
Then we can talk of the grocery shop that FDH Bank plc constructed and stocked for him a year ago in what was designed as his retirement package to help him survive once he finally stops performing. That too was a masterstroke.
And wait a minute. His known studio album, Nsanje which houses the hit song Liny, was produced under the auspices of a team of well-wishers led by one Richard Gadama. The initiator of the project talks of how reluctant the Chiradzulu-based musician initially was to take up the offer.
But the group had so much belief in what they wanted to do. They stood firm on their dream and eventually managed to get the octogenarian in the studio. Agide insisted on using nothing but his usual guitar, a wish was granted without any whims.
Gadama said all they wanted was to produce a sound which had Chalamanda’s DNA on it to allow his old followers identify with it as well.
It was a project which was not just smooth sailing though. It had its fair share of hitches. The production, which started at Gadama’s RG Studios in Ndirande, was halted at some point after a few songs were produced. Desperation crept in, but there was light at the end of the tunnel.
The project was then shifted to late Chuma Soko’s Acton Studio where the production was eventually completed. And at hand was Geoffrey Wawanya, another music enthusiast, who promoted the album under his Mikondo Records.
The song Liny was just another ordinary composition admired here and there, but with no real fire to it to attract the attention of the world. Then Patience Namadingo, powered by FDH Bank plc, stepped in to do a remix (Mashup) of the song.
What happened thereafter is only stuff that dreams are made of. The new version, Liny Hoo, rose to become a sensation beyond the borders of Africa. Before then, who would have thought Chalamdanda’s name would make headlines in Germany, French, South African news publications?
But the seasoned musician has grabbed headlines in those countries in this lifetime. That you can’t take away from him.
In between, we can talk of the various goodwill interventions that several individuals and organisations have made to the 92-year-old artist. He has been spoiled in many ways. Maybe deservedly so.
But last week another door opened for Chalamanda. A silent invitation to the country’s plot number one beckoned him. And there he was dining with the country’s citizen number one Lazarus Chakwera.
The social media broke the news courtesy of beautiful pictures accompanied by a catchy video depicting the wonderful moments of comraderie that the President shared with his visitor of the day who was elegantly dressed in a grey suit.
A boyish grin never escaped his face though it was betrayed by the apparent seasons that his face has been subjected to and the grey hair dominating his upper sculp. But who would have blamed him? It was his moment.
Chalamanda has had it all. At his age, he can’t ask for more. But for a man who has received blessings in abundance, you can’t rule out anything more coming his way. A doctorate maybe? Can Dr Giddes Chalamanda sound better?
