I would call 2018 as a gigantic musical remix of them
all. Many things happened and they did to the pleasure of music lovers. And as
is the tradition, Lyrical Pen settles for those who stood out in various
aspects of the trade in the year gone by.
Year
of Albums
It's rare for albums to come from our established
artists these days due to discouraging marketing dynamics. But once in a while
these artists who have resorted to be doing more live performances do realise
that fans just do not want to be taken through the same road time and time
again.
The
Black Missionaries
This is the reason perhaps Black Missionaries had to come up with Kuimba 11, three years after the release of Kuimba 10.
The year like has been the case when Mablacks brings
new products to town, it showed that there seems to be people in this country
who just love to hate. And if there is one grouping that has grown thick skin
because of endless attacks on their works then it is the reggae outfit from
Chileka, the Black Missionaries.
Soon after the tracks were released on Friday April
20, 2018 that included Zofuna Mtima Wanga,
Umboni, Special Lover and Mbusa
and like is the case every time they are about to release an album the noise is
always deafening.
People from all callings including some from the
media and even from the music industry picked on the four tracks that the Black
Missionaries had released in readiness of their ultimate issuing of Kuimba 11
album.
After the release everyone was dancing and singing
along and therefore the unwarranted attacks were just that; unwarranted
attacks.
Lucius Banda
Earlier
in the year, Lucius Banda released his 19th Album which the pain observed was
reminiscent of an artist who genuinely stood for the people and ended up
branding himself the soldier of the poor until Bakili Muluzi happened.
Rightly called ‘Crimes’ the album took Government to task exactly the same way he
used to do with the Government of the first multiparty President Bakili Muluzi.
While everyone was clapping hands for Lucius for speaking on their behalf, like
a bolt from the blues, he made a U-turn and befriended Muluzi after a special
invitation to the kingly walls. Nevertheless what the pen declared over the
years is that Malawi has never had a consistent musician more than Lucius Chicco Banda.
His music has been the most loved even by those that do not love his person due
his political choices.
Lucius Banda
has suffered a lot. If it was not his music being banned or censored then it
was his entourage being denied venues for live performances.
He has even
suffered jail sentence, merely because he stood for something that 'the powers
that be' did not agree with. They had to look for something that would justify
his arrest.
Anthony
Makondetsa
Another artist of
repute that brought us an album in the year is Anthony 'Mr Cool' Makondetsa.
Otherwise also fondly called 'Adolo'. His latest album Ndagwira Mbendela is a continuation of the protest that Makondetsa says is now
characteristic with his albums talked about.
Ever since in 2013 when Anthony Makondetsa
released his seventh album Fuko
Lokondedwa told me that at the rate
piracy is happening in Malawi he had realised that an artist can entertain the
people for the rest of their life but still die a pauper.
Makondetsa made a decision after releasing Mbumba ya Abraham album that he will
sing religious songs which will take him closer to his God in protest against
lack of progress despite fame and more musical products.
Skeffa Chimoto
In the year Skeffa Chimoto brought to the fore his
sixth album which he christened Masomphenya.
The pen thought this album was a statement that
compellingly speaks volumes of his benefaction that is all visibly evident and
audibly perceptible in his career.
It seems to suggest it is his career that chose him,
unlike many who chose the musical path when everything else stands against their
choice.
It was a bountiful year of albums, some of which
I have not mentioned here!
No comments:
Post a Comment