Pirates pounce on Grace Chinga’s new music

Barely three days after the death of gospel music sensation, Grace Chinga, some unscrupulous traders in Lilongwe have pounced on Chinga’s unreleased music albums, making copies of it and flooding the market with pirated version of the album.

The development comes a few days after Khathwa Aligiza the producer of the late Chinga’s anticipated album assured the public and the family that the album will not be leaked.

Before her death, Chinga started work on her new project by recording two gospel albums at Alimoso Studios, which is run by Aligiza and another at Groove Magic Studios run by Joseph Tembo.

But yesterday, both producers distanced themselves from leaking the albums.

According to Tembo, one of Chinga’s pirated CDs bearing Ndzaulula as album title has been found selling like hot cakes on the streets in Lilongwe this week.

Tembo posted his concern about piracy and cover copy of the ‘illigal CD’ on a WhatsApp group which was created to update each other on the events surrounding Chinga’s death and issues.

The producer argued that he surrendered the master CD of the music he recorded to Chinga before she died on the night of March 17, after a short illness.

On his part, Aligiza said on the same platform that he is yet to surrender the master CD of Chinga’s new music.

He said: “She passed away, when I was about to officially present to her the master copy. But I am not aware that her new music is being pirated and sold.”

But the development has not gone down well with some musicians who have called on Copyright Society of Malawi (Cosoma) to stop the piracy.

“We all need to work hand-in-hand to ensure that Chinga’s music is protected at all cost. It’s unfair for people to reap where they did not sow,” said Khama Khwiliro.

Queen of gospel music on the local scene, Ethel Kamwendo said relevant authorities must curb the malpractice which will only enrich pirates.

In an interview yesterday, Cosoma Senior Licensing Officer Rosario Kamanga said they will look into the issue.

Meanwhile, Chinga’s new song called Tikachita Bwino has also gone viral on social media.

Tikachita Bwino is a song many view as the one she prophesied her death.

One of the verses in the song goes: Pena udzafa utachita ngozi/Udzakomoka nkupitilira/Mwina kungogwa kufa osadwala/Pena kufera kutulo osadziwa/Kanthawi katsala konza mtima wako/Usazengeleze mwina mawa sufika/Wina aliyense adzaweluzidwa malingana ndizintchito zake.