Malawi playing second fiddle to Zambian music, MAM blames radio stations
Zambian music is flooding the market in Malawi even enjoying more radio play than the local music. The Music Association of Malawi (MAM) president Mapemba has since blamed the private radio stations for the development.
Mapemba said the private radio stations were favouring Zambian music at the expense of Malawi songs.
“It’s you [radio stations] who are opening up Zambia music. Radio stations are giving too much air time to Zambia music,” MAM president said during Capital Radio Straight Talk programme on Thursday night monitored live by Nyasa Times.
“All radio stations in Malawi have been playing Zambian music and have been playing frequently other than local music,” pointed out Mapemba.
Asked by programme hosts, Brian Banda, what the music association is doing on the matter, Mapemba said MAM has tried to lobby the media houses.”
Banda asked Mapemba if MAM has made any research why Zambian music is having more air play in local broadcasting houses but the president of music association blamed it on Malawian altitude of not supporting local products.
“It’s our Malawian altitude, we are not proud of our products. Why can’t we start looking at our Malawian music as the best,” he said.
“Even our State President says time and again its high time Malawians love our products,” he pointed out.
Nonetheless, Mapemba said Malawi music is “booming”.
“During the {late Daniel] Kachamba time there were few musicians, look today almost popular musicians are young ones it means we are moving,” he said.
“Look now an example is Tay Grin (pictured). For the first time he has won an award. It means the music is booming,” Mapemba said.
Mapemba also disclosed that international artist coming to perform in Malawi will have to pay a fee to the music association.
“There is no way you can leave this country if you are a footballer to play football in South Africa without being registered with the football association,” he said.
He appealed to Malawians to be first in promoting local music.
International Artists paying a fee to MAM? That will not solve the problem at hand.Infact you are barring international artists from coming to Malawi. I think you should resign from your post as president of MAM.
awawa afuna po kawilapo ndalama basi
As a Zambian, I know that Malawi and Zambia have a lot in common and it shouldn’t surprise anybody that there’s too much Zambian music being played in Malawi. We share the language and even the culture. Both countries are peaceful and have come a long way together. Perhaps Malawian artists need to work hard and see what it is that Malawians like most about Zambian songs. Zambia, too, is not closed to international artists. Congolese artists are still popular in Zambia. I can only pray for that day when Zambia will be able to import songs from Malawi. There’s just a lot in common with you our brothers and sisters in Malawi….Mlungu amidalitseni onse!
Hey guys, I would like to agree with Dede here, Zambia and Malawi share a lot of things in common, these Malawian musicians must understand that they are competing with their fellow Zambia artists for the same pool of listeners, so the issue at hand here is competition, now it either they swim or sink other than create a leverage.
This should not be seen in a negative sense. Malawian musicians should up their game. They must find out what Zambians are doing that they are not doing. Has anybody thought of collaborating with Zambian artists. This will be a win-win situation because the market will be larger for that sort of music! So stop crying and hit the studios.