Maravi

‘Zambian music floods Malawian radio stations’

‘Zambian music floods Malawian radio stations’
By Moses Kuwema
Fri 27 Nov. 2009, 04:01 CAT

ZAMBIAN music is flooding the market in Malawi and enjoying even more airplay than the local music, local media in that country have revealed. According to the Nyasa Times of November 19, 2009, Music Association of Malawi (MAM) president Mapemba has since blamed private radio stations for the development.

Mapemba said the private radio stations were favouring Zambian music at the expense of Malawian songs.

“It’s you radio stations who are opening up Zambia music. Radio stations are giving too much air time to Zambia music,” Mapemba said during Capital Radio Straight Talk programme which was monitored live by Nyasa Times last Thursday night.

“All radio stations in Malawi have been playing Zambian music and have been playing frequently other than local music,” pointed out Mapemba.

Asked by programme host, Brian Banda, what the music association is doing about the matter, Mapemba said MAM has tried to lobby the media houses.

Banda asked Mapemba if MAM has conducted any research into why Zambian music is having more airplay, but the MAM president blamed it on the Malawian altitude toward local products.

“It’s our Malawian altitude, we are not proud of our products. Why can’t we start looking at our Malawian music as the best?” he said.

“Even our State President says time and again, it's high time Malawians loved our products,” he pointed out.

Nonetheless, Mapemba said Malawian music is “booming”.
“During the {late Daniel] Kachamba time, there were few musicians. Look today almost popular musicians are young ones. It means we are moving,” he said.

“Look now an example is Tay Grin. For the first time he has won an award. It means the music is booming,” Mapemba said.

Mapemba also disclosed that international artistes coming to perform in Malawi will have to pay a fee to the music association.

“There is no way you can leave this country if you are a footballer to play football in South Africa without being registered with the football association,” he said.

He appealed to Malawians to be first in promoting local music.

Labels: MALAWI, MUSIC, MUSIC ASSOCIATION OF MALAWI, RADIO

posted by MrK @ 12:43 PM