Wokomaatani back with new compilation

While fans are still enjoying his previous poems, legendary poet Benedicto Wokomaatani Malunga has released his second poetry album.

Titled Ulaliki wa Moto, the poetry album centres around human interest issues, according to Malunga.

“The album, which will soon be on the market, is my second collection of Chinyanja poetry on a CD. In coming up with it, l made sure it summarises life in multiple dimensions and bring out in some instances its ugly side which deserves purification through burning with flames as its title and sleeve picture suggest,” said Malunga.

He said he has learnt a lot from Chinyanja poetry masters such as Sam Mchombo and the late JW Gwengwe.”

The poet said the inspiration behind the CD is to share in artistic fashion the interrogation of life in its variegated form.

“This is to bring out meaning and value out of it while discarding the impurities that interfere with its total enjoyment. The CD tackles a multiplicity of themes of human interest,” he said.

Malunga said the themes include love, death, the challenges of African motherhood, the teaching profession, nostalgia for what worked in the past, the beauty of returning home, ungratefulness, committed motherhood and the frustration of failing to understand God’s way.

The album also tackles empathy, being caring to those with challenges, celebrating the triumph of those with disabilities, the consequences of ignoring wise counsel, the sweetness of education in early primary school days, among others.

In the album, Malunga rekindles fond memories of the late Stonard Lungu by not just having one poem named after the musician’s Zapadziko, but by using it as background music.

“Zapadziko brings to the fore a much broader perspective to life than the resigned one he advances through the lenses of different people engaged in unrelated preoccupations simultaneously and yet with diverse and at times contradictory results,” said Malunga.

The poet has lots of unpublished works and another CD is in the offing. Initially, the new CD will not be online as Malunga is exploring the best way to make it available for his followers in the Diaspora.

Ulaliki Wa Moto is his second CD coming after Siananso Awa which has the popular poem, Ndidzakutengera Kunyanja Ligineti.

So far, a number of his Facebook fans are looking forward to the compilation.

“Wokomatani is back and here we have not even forgotten how good Ndidzakutengera Kunyanja Ligineti is. I can’t wait for the album,” commented Mercy Phiri on the collection’s flyer.