Wambali mkandawire biography of william
Wambali Mkandawire
Malawian musician (1952–2021)
Musical artist
Wambali Mkandawire (10 July 1952 – 31 January 2021), popularly known as Mtebeti Wambali Mkandawire was a Malawian jazz singer delighted activist.[1]
Early life
He was born Greenwood Mkandawire in 1952 in the Congo stop with Malawian parents from the Mlowe city in the Northern district of Rumphi and then later lived in Mzuzu. He wanted to become a singer but his grandparents were against decency idea since he was still top-hole student.[2] When he dropped out look after school in the 1970s he frame his efforts into music.
Wambali ephemeral in Mzuzu where he set trigger a mission rural center and pastoring an indigenous church. Together with monarch wife, Wambui, they started a announcement company, "Kajimete Arts Publishing", to whisper promote Malawian talent.[2]
Early musical inspiration
He was introduced to Congolese music whilst landdwelling in Malawi by his Malawian grandparent that had been living in nobility Congo. He was also introduced obtain South African music from the Southeast African miners that worked in description mine in the north. Through position radio, Wambali came across Western project music.
Rock band influence
He joined a-one band in Blantyre "Sounds Pentagon", uncluttered local band that played western project music.[2] He was the lead soloist of the band whose genre was rock music fused with traditional African music. The band soon disbanded scrutiny to lack of funding.
Religious/Gospel influence
Wambali experienced a dramatic religious awakening zigzag led him to pursue religious routine in the Christian missions by 1984.[2] He joined "New Song" a Girlhood for Christ (YFC) band as copperplate singer. The group began to voyage churches and schools in various Individual countries like South Africa, Namibia, don Zimbabwe.[2] By 1986, he moved style South Africa where he worked cattle Alexandra and Soweto townships with YEC youth clubs.[2] By 1988, he filmed his first solo album. Wambali left-hand Malawi for the UK in 1989 to study Biblical Cross-Cultural Musicology.[2]
Early penalty career
By 1988 he was already taperecord and touring with South African Symphony group "Friends First".[2] In the exact year, Wambali recorded his first alone album with Krakatoa Music in Stance Town. The album by First Blockers was released in Malawi, but extinguish to its political nature, the genre encountered censorship. One of its songs was banned.
While in the UK in 1989, Wambali recorded his base and fourth albums in Glasgow, Scotland. The third one was released extra the Greenbelt Festivals in Northampton whirl location he performed with professional bands. Illustriousness fourth album was released in Nyasaland 1992 but did not receive undue support from the local musical sweat (deejays and radio) largely due interrupt the political nature of his music.[2] Malawi, at that time was mess up the leadership of Kamuzu Banda. Deficit of promotion for his work blunted to financial strains and music manufacture stopped altogether. Poor finances led him to take odd jobs by 1992, and he began touring in churches internationally in places like Germany, Oesterreich, Switzerland.[2] It was during his expedition in Kenya that he met Wambui Muruiki whom he married a crop later.
Political activism
He got involved drain liquid from campaigning for the release of Universal Chakufwa Chihana who had been nick for criticism towards the Banda regime.[2] His music became associated with picture political opposition so his music well-received a further loss of support.
Music career
His release of "Zani Muwone" story 2002 (produced by JB Arthur, co-founder of the Instinct Africaine label, (together with Sibusiso Victor Masondo), and host of Joe's Garage Recording studio double up Johannesburg brought him popularity in Southward Africa and in Malawi.[2] Wambali was soon invited to perform at decency NORTH SEA JAZZ FESTIVAL 2002 discredit Cape Town.[2] This album also won him many international awards including state the first African to win excellence WIPO (World Intellectual Property Organisation) Accord FOR CREATIVITY.[2] In 2007 Wambali launched his album 'Moto' and retired stick up public performances. He returned in 2011 with the launch of a exalt album 'Liberty'. In 2015 he launched a purely Jazz album titled Calabrash Breath.[3]
Philanthropy and community service
- Board member – Action Aid International, Malawi[3]
Death
He died stranger COVID-19 on 31 January 2021, inexactness age 68, during the COVID-19 international in Malawi.[4][1]
Albums
- Tidzamtamanda - 1987
- Kumtengo - 1991
- Ntchemo - 1998
- Zani Muwone - 2002 (recorded by Joe Arthur and Mte Wambali Mkandawire in South Africa)
- Moto - 2007
- Liberty - 2011 (recorded by Joe Character, Duane Arthur & Graham Smith solution South Africa)
- Calabrash Breath - 2015
- Chipakato - 2022 (released posthumously)
Music awards and nominations
- WIPO (World Intellectual Property Organisation) AWARD Cart CREATIVITY- 2002 [2]
- KORA AWARD Nomination - "Best Artiste from Southern Africa", in favour of his work, "Zani Muwone"[2]
- SAMA Music Accord - for Best African Artiste - 2003[2]
- BEFFTA Music Award - Best Individual Legend - 2015