On Panafrica WORT 89.9 FM - Music from Zambia and Malawi

On WORT 89.9 FM Panafrica Show (http://www.wort-fm.org/listen.php), this Saturday, November 19th, 2-4 PM CST, we head down south to Southern African countries of Zambia and Malawi to explore the rich musical and cultural heritage of these countries on our World is Africa tour.

 

Malawi, nicknamed the 'Warm Heart of Africa' and formerly known as Nyasalaland is landlocked with Tanzania, Mozambique, Zambia as it neighbors. The name Malawi derived from Maravi that comes from the Nyanja people that inhabit the area was first colonized my migrating bands of Bantu People around the 10th Century. In 1891, it was colonized by the British until Independence in 1964 with 'Life President' Hastings Kamusu Banda as president. Malawi has a rich cultural history and the country produce some of the early guitarist in Africa such as Donald Kachamba. The tendency for Malawians to travel and also as migrant workers has seen their music spread to many parts of Southern Africa, including influences on Kwela and Jazz music of South Africa. Oppressive colonial tactics and censorship under President Banda stalled the growth of Malawi music industry. Well known bands and artists of the 60's and 70's include Mulanje Mountain Band, Tony Bird, and Chimvu Jazz Band. Contemporary well-known international artists from Malawi areWambali Mkandawire, Lucius Banda, Tay Grin, Esau Mwamwaya, Black Missionaries, Real Elements, Mafilika, Ray phiri, Maskal, Dan Lu, Alan Nomoko and Young Luv. Hip hop genre and urban fusion is now the dominant music genre in Malawi

Zambia, formerly Northern Rhodesia is also landlocked and shares border with Congo, Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia, and Angola. Originally inhabited by Khoisan peoples, the region of what is now Zambia was reached by the Bantu expansion by ca. the 12th century. Due to the numerous influences, the music of Zambia has a rich cultural heritage and consists of traditional, popular and christian gospel. Zambian music is characterized by the extensive use of Call and Response found in many African cultures. Traditional instruments include Ngoma drums, variety of membranophones, animal horns called Nyeele,  and various thumb pianos such as Tonga have kankobela, the Mbunda withkathandi, the Lozi with kangombio, the Lunda play chisanzhi, and the Nsenga folks who play kalimba. Zambia also produced some of the early guitarists out of Africa including John Lushi, William Mapulanga, and Stephen Tsotsi Kasumali. A new breed of artists including JK, Danny, Shatel, and Black Muntu, are extremely popular and produced by Zambia's most successful record label,  Mundu music corporation.

 

Join us for Progressive music and discussion on Saturday, 2-4 PM.

 

Panafrica Team

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Alhaji N'jai & Linda Vakunta (Dj Linda)
PanAfrica Show (Saturdays 2-4 pm CST)
WORT 89.9 FM Madison
Wisconsin, USA
Ph: (608)-256-2001
Email: panafrica.music@gmail.com