Artistes Pax Gomo and Nqobile Malinga aka Professor Malinga
By Edwin Msipa
Talented Zimbabwe artists, under the tutelage of music teacher Emmanuel Chakanyuka, recently hosted a highly successful media launch of Cyclone Freddy Disaster Song and Video titled Pepani AMalawi, at The Grand Selous Hotel in Harare.
Written and composed by Emmanuel Chakanyuka and featuring the likes of Professor Malinga, Pax Gomo, Spoxx, Trust and Gift Chipisa, Margaret Chakanyuka and other Zimbabwe musicians, the video touched the hearts of many who watched it at the launch.
“Pepani aMalawi’, is a song-and prayer for Malawi following the the horrific Cyclone Freddy early this year. It urges African nations and the world-over to remember thousands of people who lost their lives and help support survivors, in particular the Chiladzulu villagers near Mount Mulanje in Malawi,” said Chakanyuka, the man behind the project.
Virtually everything in that village was wiped away including villagers, their huts, crops and domestic animals. On the morrow, nearby villagers woke up to see nothing but remnants of a horrific cyclone.
‘Pepani aMalawi’ is a way to say sorry to Malawians in their Chewa language and these artists have taken the lead to initiate an invaluable project aimed at sourcing donations towards helping the Chiladzulu village which was adversely affected by Cyclone Freddy.
These artists fervently believe that there is no gift or condolence which is late, and when one’s house is struck by lightning, their neighbor’s house is also not safe – hence the reason for everyone extend their hand to the Malawians.
Multi-talented award winning journalist, author and vibrant poet, Nqobile Malinga gives electric poetry performance in the project to add value to the song and video.
The song uses six African languages-Kalanga, Shona, SeTswana, Ndebele, KiSwahili and Chewa to call for support from the rest of Africa, and the world to help a brother in need.
Arrangement-wise, the song and video, though emotion, boast of high quality. The accompaniment of various instruments, moving pictures and agile artists added a greater completeness of the whole project.
“As musicians we can play a big role in social responsibility programmes and help our communities, government and other stakeholders through our music,” underscored Malinga.
The celebrated poet urged musicians to also tackle climate change issues, citing Pax Gomo as an example of musicians who are using their art to propagate message on climate change and veld fire for the past thirteen years.
According to environmental activist and musician Pax Gomo, these cyclones are as a result of environmental degradation.
”If we cut all trees and destroy our vegetation, there will not be any windbreak, save for houses left bare which will be blown away during thunderstorms.”
Gomo urged people to do something about keeping their surroundings clean and not to wait for the month of December to plant trees but to do so even when celebrating birthdays.
ABOUT
Edwin Msipa aka Black Mampara, The Poet is a novelist, playwright, poet, books reviewer, arts festivals director, freelance journalist, actor and a teacher. He can be contacted on email: blackmampara74@gmail.com or on cell: +263773206455
