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| Entertainment |
| Wazelezeka duo back with another scotcher |
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by
Jack McBrams, 23 April 2006
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08:14:36
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Controversial, funny, amusing.
Different words that can only be used to describe Davis ndi Edgar—that celebrated acoustic duo whose jocular and lively lyrics in their 2001 debut Wazelezeka endeared them with even the hardened critics in the music industry.
The duo, Davis Njobvu and Edgar Kachere, both of whom are lawyers, are back with a follow-up album Musamabwere Kumudzi, and according to Davis, they have not eased down a gear from their usual controversial commentary on issues and events.
“We are trying to tackle a variety of issues to do with life in Malawi, issues that range from culture and urban life. We are trying to look at things from a perspective of a villager and try to ask some questions on what some people might regard as a norm.
“And sometimes the questions may be unpleasant, like in the title track Musamabwere Kumudzi, we are attacking this trend where, when somebody dies, the expectation is that burial is going to be in the village. And when people are retrenched, that is when people start talking about the village. What we are saying is that this is not proper because we are burdening the village people unnecessarily,” he highlighted.
Davis explained that the duo has tried to tackle several other issues in the album.
“For example, in one of the songs Pakuwopa Kulawula Bwalo, we are looking at issues like defilement and rape from the point of view of the defiler or offender and trying to examine why is it that people find themselves in those situations.
“Its not that we are justifying the acts, we are only looking at the other side of the story. Sometimes, hearing the story from the same point of view is boring and does not help solve the problem. As usual, we don’t have answers, what we are doing is just asking the questions and let society pick up the issues,” he explained.
But what does he think about the ‘controversial’ label that has been branded to their name?
“I know that some people are saying we are controversial, but that’s how they look at it. We don’t seek to be controversial, we just present things as they are. For instance, in the song Ine Toto, we are talking about a man who is complaining about this habit of praising somebody when they are dead, and even willing to spend money, brave the rains and sleep late yet the same people were not willing to spend money when the person was alive.
“So we are asking questions like maybe people are doing it for themselves and not for the departed soul—that maybe they want people to think that they are good. But apart form that, this song is also a call to society to recognise people who need to be recognised in society. When you look at some of them, they are a sorry sight.
“You will be surprised at how society is willing to help when these people die. It’s high time we started recognising people while they are alive and make some things possible for them. That is our mission as a duo, to recognise and help our fellow artists. We believe that we should work at balancing this inequality, especially when one has the means,” he said.
Davis ndi Edgar started performing together when they met as students at Kamuzu Academy in the mid-90s and went on to play as a duo when they both proceeded to study law at Chancellor College in Zomba.
Davis disclosed that the music in the 13-track Musamabwere Kumudzi is still acoustic, although they have blended with keyboards in one or two songs.
“We are trying to meet the needs of our listeners—some of our fans had said they wanted something to dance to,” he said, adding that the album is a treat to all Davis ndi Edgar fans.
“This is a treat. For someone who says they love Davis ndi Edgar, this is the best that we can do,” he said.
The album was recorded at Goodson Gomonda’s GME Studios by the seasoned producer and relied on the skills of Greshan Mokoena on bass guitar and keyboards. Davis said the album includes a song Apereka Nsembe, a tribute to the late Speaker of the Parliament Rodwell Munyenyembe, which was initially recorded a single.
Davis said the launch of the album will have to wait for Edgar’s return, who is currently in the US.
“The launching will be in May because we will have to wait for Edgar’s return. He is in the US, where, among other things, he is sourcing equipment,” he said.
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