Meet Kefasi
Lower Shire in the Southern Region has over the years produced several musicians who have done well on the market.
Some of the notable names include Agorosso, Katelele Ching’oma, Stanley Nyandoro Mthenga and Joseph Tembo.
With its rich traditional elements, artists from Lower Shire have utilised some of its various traditional dances such as utse and maseseto to stand out and show their uniqueness and separate themselves from other artists.
One of the artists whose name has just come out now and is making a steady progress is Kefasi.
Kefasi came to the limelight recently when he starred at the Sounds of Malawi Acoustic Session at Jacaranda Cultural Centre (JCC) in Blantyre where he impressed the audience.
His performance at JCC was the first as he has not had his own performances due to financial resources.
Watching him perform at the Sounds of Malawi, one would not miss out hearing the Lower Shire sound.
Kefasi’s real name is Peter Kanjunju but he adopted the name Kefasi because he wanted a name that could sound better in the musical circles.
“I think I was not comfortable using the name Peter in music and so I decided to look for a marketable name and that is where the name Kefasi came in. Actually this name comes from the name Peter which in Aramaic is Kefasi,” he said.
Born on July 3 1988, Kefasi hails from Nsanje District in the Area of Traditional Authority Ngabu.
He is the sixth born in a family of seven children.
Kefasi did his primary at Chimwankhunda in Blantyre and then his secondary at Kings Foundation.
He then went to University of Malawi – The Polytechnic in Blantyre where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Technical Education.
Kefasi is a teacher and currently teaching at Namikasi Secondary School.
“I teach mathematics and physics as well as biology (form one to four),” he said.
His music background dates back to the time he used to sing in a church choir at Jesus Love of God.
“My late father was a bishop and so I used to sing in a church choir. I was doing voices but also through hard work and observation I ended up learning the bass guitar which I used to play. I also play the acoustic guitar which I learnt through observation as well,” Kefasi said.
The soft-spoken musician also said that he was helped in learning more about music by his brothers Romeo and Yohane, who he describes as his mentors.
He believes he is in music not by chance but he loves it and that he is using it in ministering the word of God.
It took him someone to establish himself in music and that later he started composing songs before taking a huge step to record in 2017.
Today, Kefasi has made strides and has made to come up with an album which he is set to launch on November 3 2019 at JCC.
“I am thankful to God for the gift. This is why I took a step to use music to minister His word. It is a good thing to sing for the Lord and this is why in most of my music I exalt God,” he said.
Kefasi has even gone further to form a band known as Panamwendo.
“Panamwendo means a long journey and so it is just one way of saying I have come a long way to be where I am today,” he said.
Some of the members that form part of his band include Jew Kapengule and Manyozo Tchado.
“I have put up a team that is talented and people will see the best during the launch. I can’t wait to get on stage and the perfect thing is that I have had a good experience performing at Sounds of Malawi Acoustic Sessions,” Kefasi said.
His album titled Kaluma’ako was recorded at Sound Room in Blantyre by Jew Kapengule and it has 11 tracks.
Some of the songs in the album include ‘Chenjera’, ‘Ali Yemweyo’, ‘Palibe Kopita’, and ‘Iwe Mwana’.
“Kaluma’ako means your sweat,” Kefasi said.
Kefasi does gospel music fused with other traditional elements.
“I listen to a lot of songs just to improve myself. But I should say that over the years I have been inspired by Western artists such as Salif Keita,” he said.
On the launch, Kefasi said he is looking forward to nothing but the best.
“The launch will be spiced up by Agorosso, who I have always looked up. He is an amazing artist and John Fire. All I can say is that I am happy with the progress I have made and there is surely more room for improvement,” he said.
