Last week, in the course of the Burning Spear live performance at Civo Stadium in Lilongwe, veteran reggae musician Limbani Banda shared his time on stage with Ndindi Mally. And some patrons requested ‘who is that this man? So Malawi Voice, on their behalf, had a chat with the reggae star:

Who is Ndandi Mally?

My actual title is Emmanuel M Mally Ndasowa. I used to be born at Zomba Central Hospital in Zomba metropolis Malawi 1980. I used to be born in a household of 4 kids, nonetheless, my eldest Sister not too long ago handed away. My mom is Ms Jessie Katsonga and I have no idea who my father is.

The title Emmanuel was given to me by my mom, who later wedded my then stepfather, Mr Kelton Ndindi, and since my stepfather was man and raised me properly, enjoying the very important position of the daddy determine for me and my sibblings, I selected to include his title into mine with a purpose to honor him as the daddy I by no means had.Sadly, after a 15 12 months marriage, he and my mom later separated because of irreconcilable variations.

Regardless of all of that, me and him nonetheless keep up a correspondence and can ceaselessly be in good phrases.The letter M in my title stands for Mphako which was given to me by my late grandfather Mr Chester Katsonga, a seasoned enterprise man and politician who cofounded and headed the Christian Democratic Party.

In his latter years, most of his property was confiscated by political enemies forcing him to maneuver to his final piece of property, his farm at 4 miles in Zomba which in current day is located by the Zomba roadblock. On this farm he had a bar with a single room which he selected to inhabit. He would typically lament in distress when he mirrored on his life and would continually state and I quote ‘Panopa ndili mu chibowo’ which within the Yao language interprets to ‘Mphako’ to exclaim how he was in a deep darkish entire, on their own, feeling betrayed and deserted by the folks he as soon as aided. The title Ndasowamally is kind of controversial as a result of it’s a mixture of two names. Ndasowa, a reputation which continually got here in my analysis once I was probing into who my organic father was.Due to different causes, I’d not really feel snug in disclosing additional info on this half.I ended up selecting my very own surname and added the title Mally on the very finish as a tribute to the late legendary reggae artist Bob Marley whome I strongly revered and idolized as a younger boy.

He is the rationale I’m the person you recognize to be Ndindi Mally in the present day I’m a single father of three.

And musically, whats your background?

When between the ages of 7-11, I used to be residing in Sadzi and had a buddy by the title Patrick Nyezerera. I together with my different buddies would head out to Patrick’s home, as a result of they’d a damaged down scrap yard automotive at his dad and mom home.We would play in it with sticks utilizing the dashboard as a drum and compose songs till late within the evening when our dad and mom would finally come looking for us.

On the flip of the brand new millennium, I made a buddy by the title Noel Mtambo at CCAP Sunday college and occurred to dwell near our new residence.He had 3 sisters, & one factor all of us had in widespread was that we beloved music. They had good music gear however couldn’t compose lyrics or sing, I might do each however had no gear.

Long story quick, I rapidly grew to become the lead singer of the band. We grew to become ‘U turn souls’Our title was given to us by a childhood buddy we grew up trying as much as until this. He would create a guitar from supplies akin to 5 liter king oil empty drums disposed from refugee camps , recycling it with a rod and some spokes rather than strings, composing his personal songs to his personal tunes and karaoke.

I had lived with him since my former days in Sadzi and now in St Mary’s too. He was a star then and continues to be a star now.You could know him as Limbanie Banda.It didn’t final lengthy as a result of as youth we collectively didn’t have the seriousness, dedication and consistency one is required to have at that age.

Often we had schooling day at our secondary college High Density Secondary School within the township, Arthur Strings, Police Band, Songani Band, Freedom Band would come to entertain us at Zomba group Centre.

The Master of ceremonies that day gave a chance to the gang to return and sing a Karaoke track to Bob Marley’s Put it on basic track. I knew his songs just like the again of my hand. I stood out from the gang and walked as much as the stage and gallantly gave it my all and spiced it up with a freestyle on the finish.

The crowd went loopy, taking a look at a nappy haired mild skinned Malawian boy sing and transfer with confidence just like the lion himself in his hay days.It didn’t take lengthy till Amon Ngudeyi the proprietor of the Freedom Band determined so as to add me to his music group proper on stage.

To date, what would you level as an achievements?

After my quick stint with them, I went solo an began in search of promoters finally operating into Professor Edge Kanyongolo who sponsored my first singles often called ‘Ulimbo and Amaiopa’ produced by Chuma Soko and Jay Jay Munthali.Ulimbo ended up being primary on MBC in 2002.

While Amaiopa didn’t obtain the identical feat however had loved fixed airplay and left lasting impression on some fashionable native dj’s on the time akin to Phillip ‘Philtouch’ Kalindawalo and Gift Mabeya Mbeya ( Andalabambo) in addition to Mike Chilimampunga and Jen Jen. Most of the youth in the present day could not know them. I wish to salute them could they obtain their flowers.

During my upbringing, I discovered the artwork of portray. This talent has grow to be second nature to me and other than my success as a musician, one among my best passions in life is portray.With the cash from Professor Kanyongolo and the financial savings I had from portray at my first firm True Love Art and Signs , I launched an album knonn as ‘ Moto wa gas’ produced by Ralph Ching’amba in 2006. It had 8 songs together with ‘Ndigona kuno’, MBC and music splash can testify to the profound affect this track had on the nations leisure scene generally on the time.

My starvation for fulfillment grew and I felt I had proved myself in Malawi, I needed to go on the worldwide stage and carry out with the greats. I managed to get in contact with Lucky Dube on Facebook, we had some nice conversations.

He ended up inviting me to South Africa for a collaboration On transit to South Africa, I had travelled to Botswana with a buddy to resolve a enterprise deal. We ended up staying longer than deliberate while there, phrase obtained to me that Lucky had been assassinated.

Final Remarks?

I’ve by no means been one to surrender, as a result of I by no means had a selection. Music is all I do know, it has all the time been my escape and my Solace. I’ve all the time been fearless in pursuing my goals and have all the time believed in myself as a result of no person was there to imagine in me.Though I’m a fatherless man, I’m a proud father of three kids.

Life has taught me to not cease and look again at the place am coming from however slightly to maintain transferring ahead give attention to the place I’m going.I’ve tailored my data and elegance to suit the instances, placing out extra music at a sooner tempo than ever earlier than, participating on new modern-day platforms akin to youtube and spotify and brushing shoulders as I share the stage with legends akin to Burning Spear in addition to my childhood buddy & brother Lambanie Dube.

There is a neighborhood proverb that claims & I quote ‘ just because a lion is wet, it does not mean that it has transformed into a cat, it is still a lion’. After 20 years, 3 albums and tens of multiples of singles, I’m in my golden years nearing my peak. I’ll give the world the perfect of me till I neither have a voice nor life in me.I could fall alongside the way in which, however in true Ndindi Mally trend, I’ll decide my self up. Surely in Judah the lion will roar once more.