Another Chisoni for serious reggae

Many Malawians know Chris Chisoni firstly as a human rights activist especially when they consider his works as National Coordinator of the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace back in the days. Now he is the head of Higher Education Students Loans and Grants Board, meaning he is still on spotlight.

However for me on these pages I know Chris Chisoni as a musical artist following the release an album which had tracks like a Michael Yekha cover of Khuluwani Muche as well as a reggae track Lancelot Goblet.

These spaces have been crying for his come back on the musical scene but it all came to nought until later last week when Chris' Kid brother Acton Chisoni came on the scene with five reggae tracks.

I must state from the onset that the coming in of Mr. Acton does not mean Chris is off the hook.

Mr. Acton has come hard hitting at this level. Considering that all and sundry of his age are settling for Urban genre it is a wonder when you find young ones coming out with roots reggae genre. They remind me of the other two siblings that we talked about Hellings and Lucky Mvula who have also released a reggae album using a showbiz name Ethics.

Mr. Acton has done serious works with the five tracks he has come out especially with the seriousness and maturity in his message, there is a religious track Mukamasule Nsinga za Satana which is a powerful prayer and providing hope that the good will triumph over evil.

Imfa ndi nkhondo is a tribute to his father where he mourns him through talking to death which he describes as a fair judge when it comes to who it chooses.

Two tracks with lines 'believe me that I love you' and 'Life is too hard' are lovers' rock reggae tracks.

The biggest weapon that Mr. Acton has is his golden voice which is complementing well with the serious reggae instrumentation that has gone with it.

At this point in time the only question that remains is if at all Mr. Acton will be able to translate the quality studio work demonstrated in his music when an opportunity will avail itself to perform with a live band. For most artists this has proven to be the biggest hurdle. It took years for Joseph Nkasa to be able to do live performance and even when he first did, it was funny how he was struggling when his music had managed to take control of all spaces.

Before we perhaps even come to this, I hope he won't be like his elder brother who will only release a few tracks and disappear or is he just hibernating? 

Otherwise, Lyrical Pen welcomes Mr. Acton to the musical fray and let the game begin.