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Music in Malawi

The musical genre of Kwela originated in South Africa in the 1950s and became popular in Malawi around the 1960s. Kwela is described as "a happy, often pennywhistle-based, street music from southern Africa with jazzy underpinnings and a distinctive, skiffle-like beat." If you are thinking "what the heck??" -- you've heard it before, because it features prominently in Paul Simon's Graceland (one of my favorites albums!). To the left is Donald Kachamba, a popular Kwela-style music artist from Malawi.


In the 1980s, a dance rhythm called "Soukous" AKA the African Rumba evolved in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and quickly exploded over the continent. In Malawi, Soukous was transformed into it's own variety called Kwassa Kwassa, which is referenced in the song "Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa" by Vampire Weekend on their 2008 album.

I tried to find some kwassa kwassa moves on youtube but all I got for you is this poor quality video. Just watch for a few seconds to see them break it down:



In the 1990s, gospel music became popular in Malawi and more recently, reggae (interesting shift?). In 2004, a major music festival called "Lake of Stars" began on the edge of Lake Malawi which is similar to Bonnaroo/Lollapalooza in the USA. This year's line up includes: The Noisettes, Peter Mawanga, Sally Nyundo, Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly., Tinashe, Eddy Temple-Morris, John McClure, Afrikan Boy, Goldierocks etc.

Some of these bands I have heard of, others....not so much, but I know off the top of my head at least two are American, so there must be some American influence on the music scene in Malawi in this last decade.

Malawi's only internationally known musical artist is Esau Mwamwaya who collaborated with a British DJ on a track called The Very Best. I find it off-putting that the DJ is called "Radioclit" but you can listen to the song below.




That's all folks!
xoxo