Talents swallowed by careers

There are some talents that for a moment take the entertainment industry by storm but quietly disappear from the limelight.

Before audiences would get enough of their talents, before some hit the pinnacle of their careers, whether as groups or individual artists, circumstances force them to bring forward the curtain call on their promising careers.

People who have followed and loved these stars are left with a myriad of unanswered questions as to why the artists left the stage with no fanfare.

Now, all the fans do is fight the boring nostalgic feelings and imaginations of what-may-have-been.

Memories are still fresh of how in the late 1990s Sweeney Chimkango mesmerised audiences with his well-voiced and intelligently weaved compositions from his three and only albums to date Yendanibe, Mfumu Ya Lunthu and Paulendo. 

Apparently, the man himself has missed his own music on the radio.

He told Society this week: “I was listening to Bwenzi from my second album. I was amazed how Studio K [in Blantyre] recorded and produced it. It was so perfect. I bet some of my music still stands the test of time.” 

But pressure of work at the Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC), where he is the chief producer, forced the country’s most gifted gospel artists to effectively suspend his music ambitions and dreams. At least for now.

Chimkango admits staying away from one of his profound passions is not an easy thing and strange.

“It is hard so to say. It is kind of running away from yourself. It is something which is weird indeed to imagine oneself not just doing music anymore. However, I am now singing with my children who are learning singing,” he says.

Chimkango says his fans need not to despair anymore.

“My brothers, led by MacDonald have formed a reggae group and they are calling it Lion 4. So I am going back to my roots. I guess so,” he says, chuckling.

Though he has been away from the limelight but Chimkango says he still follows local music with the same passion as before.

“A lot has changed with the sophisticated studios almost perfecting the art. But still I feel as artists we can do much and better,” he said.

Chimkango is not the only talent to have gone into hibernation. Another talent is Charles Sinetre.

He is the product of Balaka-based Alleluya Band.  Regarded as the music school Alleluya has given birth to countless talents who have gone on to launch fledgling solo careers or even established their own groups.

Sinetre recorded a total of six albums as a solo artist, but of late he has taken a backseat role in the music circles.

While he has made several appearances during some live shows, the talented reggae artist looks contented with his work at Nkhadze Youth Organisation in Balaka.

“I am more into music projects and of course mentoring the youth through the organisation.  I also work with the owner of Lusubilo Band so my hand is not completely detached from music,”he says.

His last music effort Malawi Googler, only came in 2017 after going five years without an album. Resultantly, its success and popularity was mild as compared to his previous offerings such as Kulota Satuma and Chimangafisi Dollar. 

Then in the years around 1995, there was a household name Eliza Kachali-Kaunda.

At 18-year-old, she was the voice of the country’s most sought after gospel music groups, Katawa Singers.

Alongside the likes of Olden Nthara, they formed a musical block yet to be equaled.

Kachali-Kaunda was not one to limit her talents to the comforts that Katawa Singers offered. She spread her wings wide as artist and she was never shy of trying new challenges. It was with little wonder that she slotted seamlessly in the role of a female backing vocalist for Malawi’s local music kingpin Lucius Banda.

She did not stop there on her adventurous artistic journey. She was soon to embark on a solo career path and released four albums, Nthawi Yafika, Timtamande, God is Good and Mwayenera Yesu.

“Though I have been away for some time but I feel due to the nature of the music I do, I am still preaching to the people. Gospel music has that power. But in 2017 I recorded three songs. I hope I can add on to that number and who knows an album may just happen soon,” she said.

The artist, who last performed live in 2017 at Mzuzu Hotel, works as principal sales and marketing officer for MBC.n