It’s been 40 years since Kalimba Band’s ‘Sometimes I Wonder’ hit off the album Make Friends With the World was released in 1983.
And now the current leader of the band Vita Chirwa, who is also Musicians Union of Malawi (Mum) president has authored Sometimes I Wonder book set to be launched in August this year.
Chirwa said Monday the book will be launched during the 40th anniversary celebration dinner on August 26 2023 in Lilongwe.
‘Sometimes I Wonder’ was famous all over the world and made it to international charts, becoming the first Malawian song to achieve this feat. This is a story that needed to be told and be preserved hence bringing this book,” he said.
Chirwa said that Kalimba Band (Class of 1983) did wonders and that they went on to conquer and at the same time mesmerise fans across the world through gigs.
“The starred in packed venues and broke all attendance records in the process. This book is a work of thorough research that I carried out for years and it is a historical account of Kalimba,” he said.
The Mum leader said the country needs to rise up and start documenting its works in all the areas including music and that he is happy to have done it for Kalimba.
“This band touched the world with their heartwarming music with their first attempt at recording. The music transformed them into superstars of that time and made them heroes,” he said.
Chirwa said the book pays tribute to the icons of 1983, whose achievements were unprecedented in the country’s music history.
“Their success remains unmatched and unsurpassed so far. So, this book offers insights into the origins of Kalimba Band, the rise to fame, recording deal in South Africa, the international breakthrough, fame glory, heartbreak and split,” he said.
Chirwa said he was looking forward to the launch of the book where a lot of activities will take centre stage.
Some of the original members of Kalimba of 1983, who are still alive, include Stain Phiri, who is currently based in Blantyre, bassist Francis Chintembo, who is also based in Blantyre and Kidd Mkandawire, who is based in Denmark.
