From suffering to love: The changing tune of Malawi music

Not long ago, Malawi music was flooded with songs full of messages of suffering. For a song to do well on the market those days, it had to glorify the suffering of many.

From Allan Namoko’s Zonse ndi Moyo, Lucius Banda’s Amandituma, Malume Bokosi’s Alimi Tidalakwanji toZolembalemba by Joseph Nkasa, Chiphaso by Lawrence Mbenjere, Billy Kaunda’s Alibe Mau, Malawi has had a fair share of what it means to have songs, projecting the suffering of others or perhaps many.

Ever wondered how one hit, Ulendo Wanga by Songani Swing Stars Band was chronicled?

Journalist and literature student Mzati Nkolokosa recently wrote on Facebook:

“One afternoon, in summer 1988, Songani Swing Stars Band members were on their way to Mangochi for live performances. From Balaka, they used Che Mbera road and their pick-up [truck] broke down at Kachenga.

“They spent four nights, sleeping on the road. Maurice Maulidi, the band owner, was already in Mangochi organising shows. And remember there were no mobile phones in those days. One had to use fixed ground phones and Kachenga did not have one”.

After two nights on the road, they started thinking and later came with a hit which was later recorded as Ulendo Wanga.

Two band members asked themselves, why are we suffering? One answered, I am quitting music. Together, they started thinking in lines, Ndakhala nanu/Kwa nthawi yayitali, osaaona makolo anga ine/Ndakhala nanu kwa nthawi yayitali, osaona amayi anga ine/Ndakhala nanu kwa nthawi yayitali/osaona atate anga ine/Ulendo wanga, opita kumudzi, ndikaonetsetsa, wayandikira the lyrics go.

Born out of suffering, but of course loved by many.

Now the trend has changed. Love is the main theme of Malawi music nowadays. From hits such as Unamata by Piksy, Skeffa Chimoto’s Dalitsani Okondedwa, Ndzalera by Lulu, to Usaope Akatchena by Lucius, Malawian musicians have creatively weaved lyrics on the topic of love.

Why the sudden change?

“The reason has been the influence from Zambia and other places. Zambian music is enjoying a lot of air play here together with Nigerian music because of their love songs. While it is good to talk about love, we shouldn’t abandon what we were doing. We have so many issues to talk about and its time we started balancing up,” explains Musicians Association of Malawi (MAM) president Chimwemwe Mhango.

However, Mhango feels the change has not brought much in terms of moving Malawi music on the ladders.

“It is just for entertainment. Our culture and traditions are quite solid that those issues are normally tackled perfectly. I think it is all about finding love songs to be easy in composing and putting down the lyrics. Otherwise there are many better issues that we can sing about,” he said.

Legendary music tutor Wyndham Chechamba believes the change is a result of influences emanating from change of atmosphere.

“Composers of the past were addressing actual things they were seeing then and the same with now. No wonder, some have turned spiritual because of the influence of praising the lord now. No wonder you find some songs that the tune and message do not go together.

“But the paradigm shift has brought with it positives to the industry. We have gone up a little on the ladder to certain standards and we are perfectly fitting in the environment of the day. However, we must say, our musicians have lost the track while enjoying the change,” he said.

While agreeing with the change in focus in terms of messages in Malawi music, local urban artist Piksy believes people are now appreciating life better.

“I think these days people are starting to appreciate life. Most people now know that the best thing in life is life itself and we have learned to live one day at a time. We wouldn’t say people stopped having problems, problems will always be there but what are we achieving if we still focus on them? We have to do songs about love because that’s somehow a solution.

“This has benefited the industry because now people who are stressed listen to songs that will cheer them up. This has led to great turn ups at shows as well,” he explains.

However, while not entirely agreeing with the idea that musicians in Malawi are singing more love than suffering, Nkolokosa believes music themes goes with the genre.

“Music reflects and influences a people’s culture. We must not forget that love has been sung by all people throughout the ages. In the 1960s and 1970s the likes of Robert Fumulani sung love but you know they released one album in years. Perhaps the number of songs being released every day has increased so too the number of love songs. So it might appear there is more love in our music.

“Take note that themes in music also go by genre. Reggae, for example, was born as a means for the poor to express their suffering and fight for justice. Urban music, I think, was born to celebrate town life, the technology boom, good life and the social challenges that come with it. So, if we talk of music by category, urban music may have more love songs than reggae. It is the nature of the genre of music,” he said in an interview.