Wycliffe Chimwendo’s new album fetches over half million kwacha
Sunday afternoon was a historic day for Wycliffe Chimwendo as his latest album ‘Moyo’ fetched about K750,000 through auction during its launch at Comesa Hall in Blantyre.
Politicians, business captains, pastors and other patrons competed to get the CD at the highest bid which saw Professor Peter Mutharika, in absentia, getting the 12-track album at K150,000.
Among the other bidders were Malawi Lotteries Board (K120,000), Kondanani Children’s Village (K110,000), Jimmy Lipunga and Elvis Thodi, who got the CD at K50,000 each. The lowest price paid was K20,000.
Chimwendo said he was impressed with the general public’s response.
“The turnout was good and above all, I’m amazed to see how people have welcomed the new album. It’s very rare for a new CD to fetch about a million kwacha during its launch,” he told Nyasa Times.
Receiving the gospel CD on behalf of Professor Mutharika was minister of Youth Development and Welfare Symon Vuwa Kaunda.
In an interview with Nyasa Times, Kaunda said he was happy to grace the ‘Moyo’ album launch show describing it as “first class family entertainment.”
“And as minister of Youth Development and Welfare, I’m happy that I was able to mix with young people and interact with them on a number of issues affecting them. These types of shows helps young people to refrain from unruly behaviour,” he added.
The seasoned gospel singer performed eight tracks from his latest as well as the previous albums. Off the new CD, he dished out the title track ‘Moyo’, ‘Imbani za Yesu’ and the Yao track, ‘Malowe’. From his old releases, he performed ‘Opanda Yesu’, ‘Total Lie’, ‘Wanga ndi Yesu’, ‘Afafaniza’ and ‘Immanuel [Mulungu Alinafe]’.
Renowned journalist Frank Kapesa described Chimwendo’s seventh album, which has been released after a five-year break, as “very mature” saying, “He’s the same Wycliffe Chimwendo we used to know, but right now he has gone a step ahead.”
The veteran journalist singled out the Yao track as something which shows how Chimwendo has grown in his productions.
He said “I don’t understand Yao, but listening to the song for the first time, I liked it so much and that’s how you can tell how good a song is.”
Marching Soldiers, Lloyd Phiri, Thocco Katimba, Kondanani Children’s Village Choir and the mighty Ndirande Anglican Voices also performed during the show.
Chimwendo said his plans will be to take the launch of ‘Moyo’ album to Lilongwe and Mzuzu “in the near future”.
His previous albums include ‘Wanga ndi Yesu’ recorded in 1996, ‘On my Side’ recorded in 1998, ‘Sizobisa’ recorded in 2001, ‘Ndani Akufuna Yesu’ recorded in 2003, the 2006 ‘Yesu Wapambana’ and ‘The Best of Wycliffe Chimwendo’ released in 2009.
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