David Kalilani pleads for support

Lilongwe-based gospel rapper David Kalilani has appealed for financial support for his trip to London to attend the African Gospel Music Awards (Agma) ceremony in which he received two nominations.

Kalilani was nominated for the Afro Rap Artiste of the Year and Album of the Year categories. With the award presentation ceremony scheduled for July 6, Kalilani and his manager are still looking for financial support for their flight to and from London.

“I am appealing to the corporate world to consider sponsoring me and my manager Zohra Matundu for our trip to London. If we do not find the sponsorship I will not go, but even if I will not go and perhaps do not win, the nomination is encouraging to both myself and Malawi,” said Kalilani in an interview.

He said the nomination has the potential of unlocking doors of opportunities.

“Many of the people nominated have big names both in and outside Africa. They have a large fan base and are signed to big record labels. I am counting my luck that perhaps I might do collaborations with these musicians. I am thrilled and glad the world is recognising what Malawi does,” he explained.

The gospel rapper has one album; Exodus: The preview, under his credit. Interestingly, Kalilani does not know how his name found its way on the nominee list.

“I don’t know how I got the two nominations. I never knew about Agma until the list of nominees was out. But I assume that the organisers got hold of my album on the Internet.

“Again, it has been on radio charts in countries like Mozambique, Botswana, Kenya and South Africa, among others. Possibly this also resulted in the nomination,” said Kalilani.

The 4th Africa Gospel Music Awards will take place on 6th July 2013 in London at Queen Mary University.