6 Top Malawian musicians, namely Tay Grin, Lucious Banda, Gwamba, Patience Namadingo, Kell Kay and the Black Missionaries are among the best Musicians in Malawi. Malawi has different musicians that disseminate beautiful educative, entertainment and even informative messages to Malawians. Top Malawian musicians uses different media platforms such as radio, television and even the internet to spread their messages. Below are some of the top Malawian musicians that are dominating Malawian music industry.
Duncan Zgamboaka Gwamba
Gwamba is a Malawian rapper well-known for his style, a delivery of hip-hop lyrics in vernacular Chichewa.
A native of Rumphi, northern Malawi, he derived his stage name from tribal language Tumbuka, which means “Someone Who Gives”.
Gwamba started rapping in 2005 as a kid who grew up in the capital Lilongwe. His passion for rap music came when he was in Form 1 at St John’s Catholic Secondary School, where with his hommies Cyclone, Emm Q and L.I formed a crew called Pittie Boiz. They rocked music events every now and then at school, having freestyle every time the lights went off.
Hip-hop became a huge part of Gwamba’s life and he grew up into the rapper he wanted to be, inspired by US rapper 50 Cent and locally The Basement.
He has been in the M-Dubz (Malawi’s urban music industry) game for five years.
He first dropped his first single with the Pittie Boiz called “Work That Thing”, which got first airplay on FM 101 radio’s Gowelo Beatz in 2008. The song enjoyed massive airplay and became a banger when the crew dropped a video on Television Malawi (now MBCtv).
Gwamba started recording as a solo artist 2009 and has dropped hit singles such as “Mmesa”, “Tikakumane Kumadzi”, “Sindingasiye Bawa”, “Carina ya Mdala”. In 2013, Gwamba released 3 blockbuster singles: “Ndi Ofewa featuring EMM Q, Bola Kusache featuring Nesnes and Ndiyima Pachulu Featuring Bucci”. Bola Kusache was one of the most downloaded songs in 2013.
Ndiyima pachulu Music video was released in February 2014. A song-writer, Gwamba’s lyrics are inspired by real life and being around good people. He has worked with local hip-hops heavyweights such as BarryOne, Young Kay, Third Eye, Phyzix and dancehall star Blakjak.
Gwamba now a Gospel artist has dropped quite a number of singles such as “Better” and “Alleluyah” both featuring Emm Q and “Nzeru” featuring Maskal. All songs are doing remarkably so well, despite people thinking he would lack creativity in gospel material.
Gwamaba Date of birth: November 4, 1990
Tay Grin (Nyau King)
Tay Grin is among top Malawian musician to follow in 2018.
His real name is Limbani Kalilani.
He is the best-selling Malawian hip hop artist.
He is popularly known by his best-selling album, Proudly African. The album contains hit singles like 2 by 2, Nyau Music Feat Kenya’s Nameless, Ndabwera, and Stand Up.
He was nominated for Channel O Music awards in 2007 and 2008 for Best Male, Best Southern Africa Video, and Best Hip Hop Video.
He is also a telephone entrepreneur, and founded Phone Yanu (Pvt) Ltd, a successful wireless mobile public payphone company in Malawi. He has recently released his brand new album titled “Nyau King” which includes the hit Motto (fire) featuring Wendy Harawa.
He is the founder and President of Black Rhyno Entertainment.
Tay Grin has also collaborated with international song artists such as Gemini Major, Orezi, Vanessa Mdee, and others.
Lastly, he has also taken part in different international lives shows with other worldwide celebrities including Rick Ross.
Black Missionaries Band
The Black Missionaries band is famous reggae music band in Malawi.
The Chileka based band had originally five members, namely Evison Matafale, Peter Amidu, and three of the seven sons of Robert Fumulani; Musamude, Anjilu and Chizondi. Currently only three of the founding members are living.
Evison Matafale the founder of the band died whilst in police custody in 2001, on November 7. He was accused of coming up with a political song that criticized the United Democratic Fund (UDF) under the leadership of Bakili Muluzi.
Lucious Banda (Soldier)
Lucious Banda is a Malawian musician and politician.
Banda started his musical career in the Alleluya Band, but later formed his own Zembani Band.
He was controversial to Dr. Hastings Kamuzu Banda’s regime.
He was the first Malawian musician to sing openly against political oppression in Malawi during the decades of MCP’s one-party rule.
He has been host to many popular musicians, helping to begin the career of Mlaka Maliro, Paul Chaphuka and Anthony Makondesa.
Lucious Banda Albums
Son of poor man, Mzimu wa Sodier, Cease fire, Yahwe, Down Babylon, Enemy, Money and power, Unity, Life, Not Easy Road, Time, Survivor, fifteen fifteen, and the most recent album is Crimes.
Date of Birth: Born in 1970
Patience Namadingo
Patience Namadingo is another top Malawian musician to follow in the recent years.
Namadingo was was born on 28 May, 1990.
He is a Malawian gospel singer-composer and songwriter.
His debut album, “Goseni” which was funded by his mother who did two songs on the album, was released on 27 December 2007.
His second album, “Tiri ndi Yesu” featured the hit “Mtendere” was released in 2010 and went on to become the number one selling gospel album between 2010-2012.
Namadingo is the first born in the family of three, he comes from Kapalamulaa Village, T/A Nsamala in Balaka district.
Growing up as a kid, Namadingo did his first years of primary school in Lilongwe, before his parents moved to the northern city of Mzuzu, where he spent part of his childhood, before the family relocated to Lilongwe where he did his secondary education at Chipasula Secondary School.
Later Namadingo went to South Africa where he studied music and arts at National School of the Arts in Johannesburg.
Namadingo launched his “Patience Namadingo Foundation with the aim of helping needy secondary students across Malawi to continue with their education. Namadingo launched his foundation at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital in Blantyre, alongside friends.
Kell Kay
Kell Kay real name Kelly Kambwiri, is among the top Malawian musicians. He is one of the best R’n’B artists in Malawi. He is popularly know by his first hit single ‘Ndilole Ndipite’ which he released in 2014 when he was signed by climax entertainment.
In 2015 the song which he was featured in “Mwano” won song of the year.
He is currently studying marketing at Malawi Adventist University.
The Lilongwe-based artist was born in 1993 and released an album in September 2016 .
Kelly Kay still continues his Musical journey of producing more hits of which some of them include “Nono” where he featured Macelba, “Juju” featuring Charisma, and “Milandu,” just to mention a few.
Kell Kay has also won awards for the song of the year and best RnB artist of the year so far.
