Malawi is not well known internationally for its traditional and popular music, although that may change with the release of a fascinating contemporary compilation Sounds Of Malawi Vol.1 (Hen House Studios).
The land-locked southern African country has, however, influenced the fusion of musical ideas especially in the region, often through migration to mining hubs in South Africa and Mozambique.
World War II also brought music from outside and this led to a craze for guitars and banjos in dance bands. Music from mining towns helped to create local South African genres like Kwela and jazz (the local form, not a copy of US jazz).
Guitarist Ray Phiri was a giant of southern African jazz and also the rootsy mbaqanga or township jazz.
Malawi also has a strong gospel tradition with huge stars like the legendary Tony Bird (who toured with Ladysmith Black Mambazo in the 1980s) and contemporary stars like Ndirande Anglican Voices and Grace Chinga.
Malawi has also featured in World Beat. Longtime readers may remember a 2012 review of the entrepreneurial music group The Malawi Mouse Boys' He Is #1.
These spirited musicians sell barbecued mice-on-a-stick to hungry highway drivers with a side order of Malawian gospel performed on homemade instruments.
In 2015, Six Degrees released a moving compilation of music composed and performed at the maximum-security Zomba Central Prison. The album received widespread praise and garnered a 2016 Grammy nomination for Best World Music Album.
More recently, a new record label in the USA, Mass MoCa (a joint venture between the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art and Hen House Studios) released its first album by the Kasambwe Brothers, who also appear on the new compilation.
The project really began with Hen House label director Harlan Steinberger visiting Malawi on various music trips from 2009.
Working with the Jacaranda Foundation, which takes over the Alliance Francais de Blantyre in the centre of Blantyre every Thursday for the Sounds Of Malawi live showcase, Steinberger returned in 2024 and spent 10 days recording musicians from all corners of the country, recording an astonishing 18 bands and 85 songs, of which he selected 14 for the compilation.
Jacaranda Foundation director Luc Deschamps said: "The goal was to try and promote and preserve the heritage of Malawi, to pass it on to the youth, the young musicians so that it can go on." The weekly gigs have become very popular with local music fans. The event coordinator and ethnomusicologist Waliko Makhala kicks off the album with the song Moto Wayaka, which is a stirring call for people to mobilise and push for self-reliance.
There are many delightful surprises on this album, which unlike many compilations of African music is not an album taken from historical sources and different eras -- all the musicians on the album are performing.
They go from the hugely popular singer and social media star Keturah to 95-year-old elder Giddes Chalamanda who plays a homemade banjo on his viral hit Linny Ho, said to be his first professional recording in a studio. Naturally, he's a star on TikTok.
I really liked Keturah's blend of southern African sounds with Congolese (Central Africa) music (known as kwassa kwassa in Malawi) on the previously unreleased song Nsanja, and the Kasambwe Brothers are brilliant on the foot-tapping Mtima Wanga.
Another standout is theatrical artist turned singer who has a soaring set of pipes, as heard on Uchindere.
But my favourite track on this compilation is Chinafuna Mbale from deep-voiced Boniface Ndamera and The Lucky Stars. This is a serious dancefloor filler, with a distinctive South African mbaqanga (or sometimes called Township Jive) groove that is driven by bandleader Ndamera's guitar.
It turns out this song features the southern and central traditions of Malawian music, while Goma Nyondo features the northern traditions on the song Moto Kumapiri.
This is a terrific compilation that offers a musical snaptshot into an African musical culture that is not well known internationally; it is to be hoped that this album will peak Musca fans' interest. Released last month. More information from henhousestudios.com.
You could musically pair this essential album with another recent compilation that surfed onto the World Beat desk last month.
Joseph Kamaru was a leading Kikuyu musican, famed for his brilliant Kenyan Benga and gospel music, and also for his politically motivated songs that sometimes criticised and sometimes supported the Kenyan government.
Heavy Combination 1966-2007 is a snapshot of his life's work -- he recorded nearly 2,000 songs (to add perspective, Thailand's own pleng luk thung star Yodrak Salakjai only managed a mere 500!).
There are some great guitar driven songs here, as well as gospel and Benga beat. If you liked Soundways' series of compilations on Kenya popular music, this one on the Disciples label will be of interest.
John Clewley can be contacted at clewley.john@gmail.com.
