SA-based Malawian sells music for charity

Malawian gospel musician based in South Africa Clara Nyirongo has struck a deal with a UK-based website Amazon to sell her new album Nkhoswe Yanga to be released next month.

Nyirongo told On the Arts in an e-mail response that 10 percent of the sales will be used for charity at a local non-profit organisation Transport 4 Transport, a home for the elderly in Mulanje, Malawi.

The organisation is run by well-wishers from Holland and is directed by Berend Van Der Weide who is also her webmaster.

Said Nyirongo: “My mission is to give back to the community that supports me. I promised myself to share anything that I get from my music industry towards charity. During my free time, I visit orphanages to offer financial and moral support to orphans and cheer them up further by singing for them.”

As a lead vocalist for a church choir at Berea CCAP Church in Johannesburg for nine years, Nyirongo released her first solo album tilted Ana Amasiyein 2011.

Nkhoswe Yanga, produced by Ralph Ching’amba in SA, is her second album.

“I titled my first album Ana Amasiye because of my passion and understanding of the predicament orphans find themselves in, especially in the rural areas where there are no orphanages.

“My second album advises people not to despise their talents. It also advises that we should be firm in Christ. Let us not be gold plaited. We need to be pure even in heart,” says Nyirongo who has been in South Africa since 2004.

Nkhoswe Yanga features Evans Meleka, NyaradzaiChitheka and Steve ConnexChalenga.

The new album has UmboniWanga, NdampezaWangaand Nganganga, among other tracks.