Meleka sings Bonya

Makers of Oxford Dictionaries this week named “Gif” the word of the year.

According to Time Magazine, the buzzword used when compressing or sharing image files beat Eurogeddon and omnishambles—terms for European economic crisis—to make the prestigious list dominated by technological terms.

But if the brains behind the word ‘business’ had toured Malawi this year, the famous bonya could have forced them to revisit their shortlist. Probably the smallest fish in Lake Malawi—Africa’s third largest fresh-water body-—bonya is a domestic hit as the country licks its economic wounds.

First, it was cartoonist James Kazembe’s Amtchona cartoon naming the minute delicacy the new big thing only rivalled by Malawi’s football ace Gabadinho Mhango.

Now, self-styled gospel singer Evance Watsopano Meleka has released a single speaking highly of bonya.

In a crafty allusion to the portrayal of Jesus multiplying two fish and five loaves of bread to feed thousands of his followers, the song talks about the relief that has come with bonya, dubbing its influx a miracle at a time the cost of living is rising beyond the reach of the poor majority.

 “As an artist, I look at what is trendy and relevant to my society. Everyone is talking about bonya and some people are eating it daily because they cannot afford meat and other types of fish. One day, God will give them something more delicious,” said Meleka.

Meleka has a fresh album on the market.

He said the single Bonya as “just a gift to his fans”. The single is currently enjoying airplay on various radio stations.