Kuli Kuli Kuli Kulira kwa amphawi,
Misonzi yawo siyipita paderadera ayi …
This was a unique start of a track by one of the youthful artists in the country.
The young man from Embangweni in Mzimba died days after he sustained severe injuries in fire accident at a house he was sleeping in.
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He died on May 20, 2022.
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The 28-year-old artist was treated at Blantyre’s Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital a few days before his death.
Martse was marked a star by a lot of his fans and others, as he was developing his art in a unique way.
On social media, most would say Malawi’s hip hop industry was creating a ‘King of the genre’.
The loss was felt by many.
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Lilongwe based DJ Nax P, real name Nathan Patrick Nangwale, would put it: “The guy realised his dream in music. He was more into turning old school tunes into hip hop tracks. That was a unique approach.”
A year and three months later, Malawi lost another musician Victor Mwangobola, popularly known as Tremour.
Known for his hit “Mpanipani”, Tremour was involved in a motorcycle accident which made him suffer injuries in the head.
Malawi mourned.
“I will remember Tremour in different ways. His tracks were done in an attractive manner and many people were being inspired by his music. I love his music,” Aaron Kandiwo Mtaya, one of his fans based in the capital Lilongwe, said.
And again, three months down from Tremour’a death, Atoht Manje, real name Elias Samson Missi, died soon after his performance at University of Livingstonia in Rumphi.
It was a traumatizing death of an artist who was on stage a few hours earlier performing energetically.
The Musicians Union of Malawi (Mum) expressed shock with the death of Atoht Manje.
In a statement dated October 8, 2023 and signed by the body’s general secretary Tonney Chitimatima, Mum said the creative sector had lost a talented artist who used music to promote and preserve the country’s culture.
The artist, with his Bazooka Vybz Band, had established himself as a force in the industry with his unique style of music. As testimony of his prowess, on several occasions he dominated blank media levy collecting millions disbursed by the Copyright Society of Malawi (Cosoma)
Some of the songs he released include ‘Che Patuma’, ‘Huwa’, ‘Ndalama’, ‘Munthu’, ‘Zili Bwino’, ‘Kunong’a’, ‘Woyowoyo’, ‘Tizipepeseko’, ‘Majelasi’, ‘Unanditani’ and his latest ‘Phone Ya Bae’.
Commenting on how the entertainment sector has been hit by these departures of artists, events organiser, Levison Msakambewa, said the world is essentially a tragedy to live in.
He said Martse was thorough as an individual in his close association with friends and he demonstrated this even in his lyrics.
“His tunes were special. Possibly, because he was smart in choosing his producers and fellow artists for collabos. His music lives on and continues to enjoy air play on different radio stations,” he said.
Msakambewa also said Tremour was a beacon of hope and the feeling people had was that he would follow the path of Matafale or indeed Vic Marley to greatness.
“He was special. He had a strong voice and his few songs in the industry could be because of resources. This is where we lost as his fans. Some artists release music week after week because they have financial muscle to do so yet their end product has less appeal. If Tremour had such resources surely he would have easily broken into the global market,” he said.
According Msakambewa, who has been organising events like Hangout Festival, Atoht Manje was traditionally built a fine artist.
“He knew how to blend his music well with his Yao culture. He was a dancehall material but his way of handling local flavours was exceptional,” said Msakambewa.
And as if the nation had not mourned enough, there came another blow, legendary Thomas Chibade’s death.
This artist was like that stone which the builder had rejected becoming a cornerstone, according to Msakambewa.
Che Nkhumba, as Chibade was also known, was skillful, he said.
“He knew how to play the guitar. Unlike others who do not write their songs, Chibade wrote his songs and would bring his manuscript to the studio. He knew his direction,” he said.
Chikuchitika ndi chani inu?
Chikuchitika ndi chani inu?
Ankolooo, mwakwatira kwa mahule.
Ankolo, mwapanga dala!
These are tunes that rocked the minds of Malawians in the early days of his career.
Chibade was laid to rest at Area 18 cemetery in Lilongwe two weeks ago.
Surely, Malawians have had different treatment towards local music. But there is going to be a common point that long after the artists are gone, their various tunes shall be in the memory of many.
