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Kawale artists fight for supremacy
By
Joseph Langa - 09-01-2003 |
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Two reggae music groups from Kawale in Lilongwe — Capital Vibrations and Mickey Lover the Prophet and Ras Alula — have engaged in a battle of supremacy on the airwaves of the city’s radio stations.
Both groups released albums late last year and are promoting their music through radio stations in Lilongwe and Blantyre.
But Mickey Lover the Prophet, who has produced a 10-track reggae album with his colleague Aubrey Dzaoneni alias Ras Alula, said although the songs feature high on radio stations especially in Lilongwe, he is not happy with sales.
“We are discouraged because we don’t seem to be benefiting from the album. We are failing to promote it due to lack of funds. The songs on the album are mature, according to what our fans are telling us,” said Mickey Lover.
Songs such as Wakundichema, Kaya, Rute, Mtunduwatha and Mkaidi wa Njala are popular on Alinafe and ABC radios.
The songs are normally played before or after some popular tracks by Capital Vibrations, a three-member group whose CDs and tapes went on sale late last year.
Comprising Green Herbs (Herbert Taulo Makanjira), Pink Racket (Racket
Kapachika), Ras Daniels (Fauster Chaluluka), the group mostly plays a fusion of roots, commercial and gospel reggae targeting the youth.
Zipapapa, a track composed by Pink Racket, advises the youth not to engage in promiscuous behaviour in view of the HIV/Aids crisis.
Pink Racket said last week he composed the song to warn the youth that it is no longer fashionable to change lovers.
Goes the song: Ino sinthawi yakuti uzinyada, amunawa uzichita kusintha, mawa kwa Pat mawa kwa Donald eee...!
The group said they want to break into the international market.
“Malawi like any other country is supposed to feature high on the international scene in terms of music but there is a barrier which we want to break,” said Pinket.
He said he admires Wambali Mkandawire on the local scene and Toots and the Meytals internationally.
Ras Daniels, whose track Better Must Come also enjoys air play, appealed to music lovers to stop buying music because of names, arguing they should also sample music of new artists.
“Most old artists will give you two good tracks and the rest will be to fill the album. This does not happen with upcoming artists like us. Let the fans sample our stuff and they will prove what I am saying to be true,” said Ras Daniels.
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