Thursday, May 26, 2022
  • About Us
  • ImagiNATION
  • Adverts
  • Rate Card
  • Contact Us
The Nation Online
Advertisement
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Life & Style
    • Every Woman
      • Soul
      • Family
    • Religion
    • Feature
  • Society
  • Columns
  • Sports
  • Chichewa
  • Enation
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Life & Style
    • Every Woman
      • Soul
      • Family
    • Religion
    • Feature
  • Society
  • Columns
  • Sports
  • Chichewa
  • Enation
No Result
View All Result
No Result
View All Result
Home Front Page

Old songs, new forms: saving or diluting?

by Edith Gondwe
13/08/2021
in Front Page, Society
4 min read
0
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on WhatsAppShare on LinkedinLinkedinShare via Email

Growing up, some of us were used to hearing women singing as they went about their daily household chores. One of the famous songs that actually even made it on some of the country’s radio stations is titled Kamwana Kamwini.

It was mostly sung by women in the Central Region when pounding maize and doing other household duties. In part, the song goes: “Kamwana kamwini kangoti mayo mayo waamuna n’chilombo awa, kuche msanga mtuluke….”

The urban artists are adapting the old folksongs

While many of us understood the song as just one of those songs that women sing while doing their jobs, a deeper understanding of the song is that it  is actually a protest song. It talks about sex in marriage in which the wife is complaining with her husband’s huge sex appetite that keeps her up all night and she, therefore, cannot wait for daybreak to escape his demands.

In an interview, Chewa Heritage Foundation vice chairperson Sefren Khamula said back in the days, women used songs when working (pamtondo) to communicate maturely and discreetly to their husbands without the children following.

“It was actually their way of getting off their chest things that bothered them. It worked because they were able to entertain themselves while at the same time pour out their hearts to those involved without alarming children. Kamwana Kamwini is one of such songs,” he said.

Khamula said many then, and even now, never realised that the women were respectfully but effectively airing out their grievances for attention but those involved knew.

And now urban artists are going back to those songs, adding a modern element and recording them.

One of them is legendary producer and singer Tapps Bandawe who recently collaborated with Tay Grin, Tsar Leo and Sangie on a remake of Kamwana Kamwini remake. This time the song is titled Mayo Mayo.

Listening to the song, one cannot help but notice the explicit lyrics which openly talk about sex.

It goes it part: “I can see you wanna ride me, turn around and grind me, hold me tightly put your legs around me….I can read your mind. Nambe wagoma, mmene ndilizira ng’oma.

“Kamwana kamwini kangoti mayo mayo wamuna n’chilombo awa kuche msanga n’tuluke, kamwana kamwini kangoti mayo mayo wamuna n’chilombo awa, kuche msanga n’tuluke…”

Commenting on the new version, Khamula said it is great that modern artists appreciate the old folksongs.

“By redoing folksongs, they will preserve them. These songs won’t die. But at the same time they are diluting the essence by directly interpreting the songs for the children to understand that this was a sexual song,” he said.

In an earlier interview, Bandawe said the sexual theme of the song is a reminder how for decades our forefathers have used the artistic medium to address subjects that were otherwise considered a taboo at the same time unavoidable.

He said: “Back in the days, people could talk about sexual issues through songs and dance. So, talking about sex in the new age should not be a taboo.

“We want to show that in our culture these things have been there and we can talk about them through music, which is why we are fusing modern urban and traditional culture to come out with a Malawian sound that people out there will enjoy.”

Rapper Tay Grin who has in the past recorded modern versions of several folksongs said new touches to old songs is the only way we can preserve them.

“When we add the modern genres to folksongs, we encourage the younger generation to listen and in the process preserving the old songs. The young people will eventually dig deeper and appreciate even the original versions of the songs,” he said.

But people we interviewed had mixed reactions to the new . While some had no problems with the modern version of the folksong, others felt it is too direct.

Said Mirriam Kosi of Ndirande: “In our society we do not directly talk about sex. But in this song, the artists are as direct as they can be. The original song was very discreet.”

But Green Phiri differed: “There is nothing wrong with the song. Even the original Kamwana Kamwini was a sexual song. So, I have no problem with this new version.”

Previous Post

BB draw Mzava’s AmaZulu

Next Post

Govt tipped on Bingu Stadium pitch maintenance

Related Posts

Gwengwe: We have started negotiations
Front Page

Govt, IMF talk deal

May 26, 2022
Front Page

Minister orders Martse’s death inquiry

May 26, 2022
Front Page

Malawi, 4 others benefit from Pfizer

May 26, 2022
Next Post
Groundsmen working on Bingu Stadium pitch

Govt tipped on Bingu Stadium pitch maintenance

Opinions and Columns

Business Unpacked

Tame egos, take risks to grow economy

May 26, 2022
People’s Tribunal

What was that press briefing all about?

May 22, 2022
Big Man Wamkulu

Wife, in-law plotting my downfall

May 22, 2022
My Thought

Tonse Alliance died on arrival

May 22, 2022

Trending Stories

  • Mutharika on the campaign trail in 2019

    APM under pressure

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Musician Martse in hospital after fire accident

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Kalindo earmarked for diplomatic post

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Nyasa Mobile Limited partners Vodafone

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Musicians, fans mourn Martse

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0

Malawi-Music.com Top10

  • Values
  • Our Philosophy
  • Editorial policy
  • Advertising Policy
  • Code of Conduct
  • Plagiarism disclaimer
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use

© 2022 Nation Publications Limited. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Life & Style
    • Every Woman
      • Soul
      • Family
    • Religion
    • Feature
  • Society
  • Columns
  • Sports
  • Chichewa
  • Enation

© 2020 Nation Publications Limited. All Rights Reserved.

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.