Malawi hip-hop duo Biriwiri talk about comeback

After announcing the release of their third album  The Green Album last year, but never did, Malawi’s conscious hip-hop duo, Biriwiri, have spoken about their silence.

The duo, comprising Kabuzi and Zizwa, went quiet last year after releasing the first single off the album Ngalawa featuring the Daredevilz, which was followed by a remix, featuring Piksy, Armstrong, Trumel and Sigidi.

In an interview, Kabuzi, real name Khumbo Munthali, explained that the group has not been out because Zizwa, born Ken Limwame, was busy with studies outside the country.

“We have been silent for over a year because Zizwa was in South Africa studying, but now he is back. So we are going to start working on some tracks, so probably next year the album will be coming out,” said Kabuzi about Biriwiri’s impending comeback.

The rapper also disclosed that the former Chancellor College rap stars might be dropping a new single before the end of this year to attest their comeback on the music scene.

Signed to Nde’feyo Entertainment, Biriwiri have two albums, Chipata Chopapatiza, released in 2006 and contains the hits Daily Daily, Mudzionetsetsa and Ndikumbukira Agogo, which catapulted them to the fore of Malawian urban music scene.

Their second offering, Umayitha, followed up in 2009 and continued their musical rise with popular songs such as Pompo Pompo and Iweyo.

Biriwiri’s uniqueness comes from their style of blending modern urban beats with traditional tunes and rhythms. Their rap has been described as freshly authentic and relevant because of their creative use of the vernacular Chichewa language, identifiable themes, memorisable hooks and handling of subject matter.

Their appeal transcends beyond the local Malawian youths to reach older audiences.  Daily Daily  and Pompo Pompo are part of the musical consciousness of many Malawians.

Internationally, apart from performing and promoting their music in Europe, their song Mudzionetsetsa was, in 2010, included in the internationally acclaimed Afrolution’s Original African Hip Hop Compilation Volume 2.

Biriwiri influences include 2Pac and Notorious BIG, Jay-Z, Outkast, Oliver Mtukudzi, Mafikizolo, Lucius Banda and Wambali Mkandawire.

Locally the duo has collaborated with the late Stonard Lungu, Lucius Banda, Dynamike,Young Kay, Dan Lufani, Maskal, Piksy, BarryOne and Tigris, just to mention a few.

Follow and Subscribe Nyasa TV :

Sharing is caring!