MY JOURNEY IN MUSIC- INTRODUCTION.

Listen to music from another part of the world- South East Africa- Malawi. My music is basically Christian- Gospel and a few traditonal. They are done in English, Chichewa- my national language- spoken in Malawi, Mozambique and Zambia. The other language is Yao, which is my traditional language- spoken in the South and Eastern Malawi, Mozambique and other parts of Tanzania. I was born from a Muslim mother and my father was a Catholic. My mother used to sing political songs for the first president of the republic of Malawi, so music is right through my family. I used to sing in the choir and I am a pastor and christian author. ENJOY!!!

MY JOURNEY IN MUSIC(part 1).

MY STORY.

I was born from a Muslim mother and in a predominantly Muslim and Traditional society. I never knew that one time I would be a professional music artist. Even so, the other fact is that my family had a musical back- ground in that my mother used to sing political songs for one of the ministers who parted ways with Dr. Kamudzu Banda- the first president of Malawi. This happened after the 1964 Cabinet Crises. One of the ministers then, Dr. Masauko Chipembere, was from my area and my mother was singing political songs for him. Her brother, my uncle, who learned driving in the second World War, was one of his two drivers. Later, Dr. Masauko Chipembere went into exile to the USA and died there. In the latter years, my mother started singing political songs for Dr. Kamudzu Banda. She was leading songs for women from my district, Mangochi, formerly known as Fort Johnston. If you can come across songs by Kamudzu's women, officially known as mbumba, from Mangochi district, most of the songs you will hear were composed and led by my mother like "Walira Koto" which means a hard ( heart felt) or painful cry of  a failed politician- referring to the president's opponent(s). It was one of the songs that the president liked and few of the songs that he sung along during political rallies and his official visits within Malawi. My mother was a great singer.

That's part of the family Musical -back ground.

My Music Journey Continues.

On the other hand, my family also had a back- ground of traditional music.

My mother was a daughter of a village headman of our village- Makwinja. Makwinja was a son of group village headman Chindamba- the first traditional head of our area- Malindi. This was the area where Dr David Livingstone described as having arrived at a place where the mountains come very close to the lake- on his last missionary trip coming from Mozambique and passing through the Southern coastal area of Malawi- someone wrote. When he arrived in my area, he met my great grandfather- Chindamba- the father of my grandfather- Makwinja and he was a Muslim.

My journey in music continues.

So I am talking about my traditional- back ground.

Dr David Livingstone conducted a Sermon and my great grandfather, Chindamba, attended with his counselors but he never got converted to Christianity but one of his subjects and I am a pastor- of the fourth generation from him and that event.

In a letter to Arthur Tidman of the London Missionary Society, Dr David Livingstone wrote: “I hope to be able to work as long as I live beyond other men’s line of things, and plant the seed of the gospel where others have not planted.

My great grandfather never got converted after his Sermon but his great grandchild is the pastor-me today. I want the world to know this but I am talking about my journey in music and in reference to my family's traditional music - back ground.

The bolder he used during that Sermon is embedded into the western wall of the St. Martins Anglican Church in my area. In fact, he was my great grandfather, Chindamba, who sold the entire area that the Anglican missionaries occupied in my area and built a college, now St. Michael's girls secondary school, built a hospital, primarily school and other infrastructures followed in latter years. So he sold the land to the Anglican missionaries between £2-3 in the late 19th century.

My Journey in music continues.

Because of that traditional back-ground, many traditional activities in my village took and still, take place right in our compound. One of the identities of these activities is traditional music- Yao.

Makwinja, my grandfather, conducted boys initiation ceremonies and his wife, my grandmother, conducted girls initiation ceremonies and Litiwo- for pregnant women. When she conducted Litiwo, I was set apart to tie beads around the necks of pregnant women during that special ceremony as all men were told to stay away from our home.

In both the jando-boys initiation; Mzondo- girls initiation and Litiwo-a ceremony for pregnant women, one of the main components added was great SINGING- with drums, sticks but also- Acapella and clapping of hands- you can imagine my musical- back ground. It's already great.

I did observe that if guitars and drums plus trumpets were added to the songs sung during the boys -initiation ceremonies, for the Yaos, the exact genre that could come up or be produced, would be Reggae. 

So from the beginning, within and towards the end of these ceremonies, SINGING or MUSIC is one of the main spices or part of its identity- well composed songs and backed up by traditional instruments and sometimes, the clapping of hands and dancing. During the boys ceremony- Jando- they normally use NGWASALA. Young boys line up with dry sticks and striking a long dry bamboo. So the sound of the sticks backed up by the drum- beating and the beautiful singing go along exactly like Reggae rhythm.

My journey in music continue.

On the other hand, many men in our district used to travel and work in South Africa. When they came back, some brought back Sound boxes to play vinyl records and many of the songs in the vinyls were from East Africa and Zimbabwe. The popular genre from East Africa was mistakenly called Kanindo, named after their popular producer- Kanindo. So my community was full of such musical activities -music from East Africa and Zimbabwe.I still remember some Artists, songs and stanzas and chorus of popular songs of those days- in the 70s. We also used to sing along those songs. One of my memory was- Sina Makosa.

Lastly, being born from a Muslim mother and my father being a Catholic, by our tradition, I was to follow the religion of my father- Christianity. In those years, there was no Catholic Church in my area. The biggest and most prominent denomination was the Anglican Church brought by the UMCA missionaries. So my mother sent me to the Anglican Church and some elderly Anglican women helped me in my Christian life. I still remember mama a Nkongojo, mama a Chalunda- whose son- in- law was principal secretary of education in the 80s. These were some of the Nyanja women who looked after me in my early- Christian life. I encountered mama a Chalunda's son- in - law, the principal secretary of education during the Kamudzu Era, at Lunzu secondary school, in my latter years of education. I saw him on his visit to our new secondary school in the city of Blantyre.

At St. Martins Anglican Church, I did sing in the youth group as well, though it was not serious music. So the Church played a great role towards my music journey, as you will learn more later.

On a personal note, I liked songs from East and Central Africa and Zimbabwe too- as those of the vinyls. We had a family - Supersonic radio in those years. It was red in colour and some of you will remember those radios. They were so good in those years- the 70s. That was a high- class radio in my community and in those years. It was a dear and was so close to me as though the parents bought it personally for me. So I used to listen to music especially from East & Central Africa but also Zimbabwe and, of course, great hits from Malawi like States Samangaya and the Police Orchestra, Che- Nasawa Nkukupa and the Super Kaso band. A & B sounds and others.

 I used to sing along the popular hits in those years and this brought me in love with singing- music.

Some of my likes in the hose years were Tabley, Sir Franco Luwambo Makiadi and other popular groups from East Africa not forgetting Oraja Mazikatire & the Ocean City band from Zimbabwe- I liked the hit Gore- not sure of the real title. I liked the song Knemo from East Africa, Sina Makosa and many more. I still remember the stanza- Ataka ku niuwa bule(may not be the right spelling); the song- Mashemeji Yangapi? Etc.

So I was soaked in that music environment and you can see my future in Music. 

But above what I have written above, I can boldly say that my talent is a GIFT FROM GOD. Why do I say that? The answer is simple. My friends who were brought up with me or brought up in exactly the same environment with me, many of whom are Muslims, are not professional music artists. so I do understand that it's a gift from GOD to me and I praise HIM for that. 

Therefore, It was not a mistake that my first Album was Gospel Reggae with my first Band, the Zion Ambassadors. My first album was We Wanna Go To Zion. That was some years later, when I moved form my district- Mangochi- to continue my education and staying with my cousin, in the commercial city, Blantyre. I have recorded traditional songs as well and backed by Saleta Phiri and AB Sounds. He was one of the traditional music giants in my country- Saleta Phiri. But mainly, I started my professional music journey with Gospel Reggae- in the late 90s. Again, my first album was "WE WANNA GO TO ZION." That was the first professional product of my music back-ground. BUT ABOVE ALL, MY MUSIC IS A GIFT FROM GOD and passed through that lingering road.

MY JOURNEY IN MUSIC CONTINUES.

From that back-ground, I left Mangochi- Fort Johnston- around 1985 to stay with my cousin and continue my education in the commercial city- Blantyre.

THE BEGINNING OF MY PROFESSIONAL MUSIC JOURNEY.

While in Blantyre, I stayed in a town called Ndirande and attended Ndirande Anglican Church for prayers. When I finished my form four, I joined the choir at that Church- as I had enough time during that period. It was not intentional but after one prayer service, a choir member, I still remember his name to be Osward, just stood as I was picking myself from the pew and he said that I and other few members, should join the choir. That was how I joined the choir at Ndirande Anglican Church. There was a popular actor in drama in my country by the name of Jacobs Mwase a.k.a a Zakariya. We were all in the same choir. Jacobs Mwase and myself sung bass and we also did the traditional drumming in the choir and calling ourselves- kang'oma- the small drum. 

I begun work at the headquarters of one of the biggest shoe companies in the world. But later, I was transferred to a popular town called Limbe, to be working in the retail outlets. The company sponsored a giant football club then and some of its players were working in the retail outlets, like me, as well.

Together with another cousin who was working for a bank in the same town, we decided to leave Ndirande and move on to a town close to Limbe and we moved to Bangwe township as young bachelors. I left the Ndirande Anglican Church choir as I moved to this new location. When I left and after a certain period then came up the popular Ndirande Anglican voices which once travelled to the UK for a music tour under the Anglican Church. It replaced my previous crew but my elder cousin's son, joined it and one member of my former choir.

In Bangwe, I joined St. Martins Anglican Church choir and become the choir master. I then formed a casual youthful band to be singing during choir festivals and other functions, apart from the main choir.

Later on, when I was sent to be relief branch manager for a branch in my former township, I met a guy passing by the shop with an electric guitar, his father was a painter and music instruments' repairer. The guy's name was Lyson Njati- the uncle Lai of the famous song- Makwatirakwatira. But he was not yet known then. I called him for a music program and he brought along Robert Banda- Nello and Alexander Mbewe. 

Robert Banda, later joined Billy Kaunda who is also my brother-in- law and was working in his studio and produced some of his popular hits like Mphinjika, after Billy left Balaka. So Lyson Njati brought along Alexander Mbewe and Robert Banda. I begun a band with these guys and called it, the Zion Ambassadors, doing Gospel Reggae. There were also other popular bands and arts in this location- Ndirande- like Saleta Phiri & AB Sounds- who later backed me four traditional songs recorded at studio K by Patrick Khoza and sponsored by Dr John Chipembere Lwanda of Pamtondo records- Glasgow, Scotland. There was Black Angels but also, the popular Reggae band- the Jupiters of the John Namalimwe and his friends. So I was staying in Bangwe but working as a relief branch manager in my old location- Ndirande- and starting my journey as a professional artist by forming my first Band with the guys I have mentioned above. 

We recorded our first album, as highlighted earlier, tittled- WE WANNA GO TO ZION. We did a live studio recording at Baptist Media by Rev. Fletcher Kaiya but we mixed it at studio K.

Some years later I left work to concentrate on my personal programs.

I then travelled to South Africa to record another album. I travelled with a demo and the instruments were done by the talented - Robert Banda. We were staying together in the latter years.

In South Africa, I met Ras Ron and later James Sekatane at Mega Music. I arrange to record my music at Mayfair, the studio that records Platform 1, Fred Gwala, Vusi Shange and other artists. I wanted ladies to back up the voices; back- up singers. The studio manager told me he would arrange two young ladies Sasa- who backed Brenda and Nani- lead singer for platform 1. I met Nani and asked for the charge to back the whole album. But my budget could could not accommodate the cost and Ras Ron found for me two other ladies from Soweto- Thabisa and Tanana and they backed me in the studios and one song- was backed by Deliwe Sifunda. Ras Ron( Robert Mngonyama) who once came to Malawi playing bass guitar for Senzo Mthethwa, played all the guitars. James Sekatane played the keyboards and one song- by Joseph Madivane.

MY JOURNEY IN MUSIC CONTINUES.

My project was finished in a good note and waiting to return home. But then I met the director of Mc Villa Music company- Mr Vil- Jeon. He was interested in my music and asked me to wait as he did a research for the market of my music which was done in English, Chichewa and my traditional language- Yao. This language is spoken in the South and Eastern part of Malawi, Mozambique and parts of Tanzania. Remember my traditional music back-ground( my Yao tradition), it popped up in my professional music- later in this journey. 

So he found my market in the Northern Province and the proper marketing/ distribution company there, was Gallo records. So he advised me to go to Gallo and if it did not work, I should still come with my second album- which I was likely to do all in English since it could be focused on the South African market. Bapsy Mlangeni opened for me a door to connect with the marketing manager for Gallo records and I was invited to Gallo, where Lucky Dube was doing his music.

Before I went there, I just thought to come home, launch my album- Khale- which was in English, Chichewa and Yao then travel back to South Africa to concentrate on those deals. It was a nice idea to me but I did not tell the marketing manager for Gallo records that I planned to travel home first and would come back to South Africa later.

So, I travelled to Malawi. Ladies and gentlemen (not gentlemen and ladies and I do not know why this old - English structure is favourite in that way) but I was not able to travel back to South Africa, as planned, due to different circumstances.

I joined the Musicians Association Of Malawi here at home and became the vice chairman for the Southern region. We managed to put together MAM as a national organization through our meetings- the national chairman was Dave Mafuleka. But the national meetings were held within our regional meetings at the French Cultural Center. We managed to set up the MAM secretariat for the first time with a full - time secretary. We chose trustees for the organization including Joeff Gondwe and Geoffrey Kazembe.

Other prominent arts in that crew were: Overtone Chimbombo- the chair for the South and other Love Aquarius band members including Ada Manda; Wycliffe Chimwendo, Stanley Mthenga, Peter Likhomo and Collen Ali, Adams family, William Kamgoga, Beatrice & Ethel Kamwendo and their brother- who was also my friend. Jedde I, Juda I and some Artists from the Rastafarian community not forgetting the Chosen generation. Ben Michael Mankhamba, Patrick Simakweli, Goodson Gomonda- of the Kaduwa fame- Wellington Chatepa and other artists.

We were able to organize music competitions, most of which, Ben Michael came out the best performing artist, he was doing traditional music. We helped settle conflicts, we helped unite artists from Balaka to those in Blantyre. We travelled there- three of us- Overtone Chimombo, Elton Kazembe and mself. We met Lucius Banda, Charles Sinetre and Foster Chimangafisi and discussed oneness of artists from the two blocks.

It was at that time that I strongly felt to serve the Lord for the rest of my life. I resigned from the organization, leaving my friends. I left the Anglican congregation to concentrate on my full- time ministry; music and business.

Since then, my music career was not active as I embarked on setting up my ministry- The Cross's Victory but I managed to record a non- serious album then, titled, Jerusalem. When pressure of setting up ministry became small, I recorded a serious album titled Winner, which I am promoting, marketing and available on the digital market as well. I am also arranging to put my first album- We Wanna Go To Zion- on the digital market. 

In short, I have done four albums in my music Journey.

My vision now is to set a a professional Christian music group- band- to finish up the remaining part of my music journey. I will also stop singing Reggae and do classic Gospel music and other few genres.

In both the jando-boys initiation; Mzondo- girls initiation and Litiwo-a ceremony for pregnant women, one of the main components added was great SINGING- with drums, sticks but also- Acapella and clapping of hands- you can imagine my musical- back ground. It's already great.

I did observe that if guitars and drums plus trumpets were added to the songs sung during the boys -initiation ceremonies, for the Yaos, the exact genre that could come up or be produced, would be Reggae. 

So from the beginning, within and towards the end of these ceremonies, SINGING or MUSIC is the main component or identity- well composed songs and backed up with traditional instruments and sometimes, the clapping of hands and dancing. During the boys ceremony- Jando- they normally use NGWASALA. Young boys line up with dry sticks and striking a long dry bamboo. So the sound of the sticks backed up by the drum- beating and the beautiful singing go along exactly like Reggae rhythm.

My journey in music continue.

On the other hand, many men in our district used to travel and work in South Africa. When they came back, some brought back Sound boxes to play vinyl records and many of the songs in the vinyls were from East Africa and Zimbabwe. The popular genre from East Africa was -Kanindo. A type of music named after the popular Kenyan musician- Oluoch Kanindo- who happens to be it's founder before it was done by local artists. So my community was full of such musical activities -music from East Africa and Zimbabwe.I still remember some Artists, songs and stanzas and chorus of popular songs of those days- in the 70s. We also used to sing along those songs. One of my memory was- Sina Makosa.

MY STORY.

Lastly, being born from a Muslim mother and my father being a Catholic, by our tradition, I was to follow the religion of my father- Christianity. In those years, there was no Catholic Church in my area. The biggest and most prominent denomination was the Anglican Church brought by the UMCA missionaries. So my mother sent me to the Anglican Church and some elderly Anglican women helped me in my Christian life. I still remember mama a Nkongojo, mama a Chalunda- whose son- in- law was principal secretary of education in the 80s. These were some of the Nyanja women who looked after me in my early- Christian life. I encountered mama a Chalunda's son- in - law, the principal secretary of education during the Kamudzu Era, at Lunzu secondary school, in my latter years of education. I saw him on his visit to our new secondary school in the city of Blantyre.

At St. Martins Anglican Church, I did sing in the youth group as well, though it was not serious music. So the Church played a great role towards my music journey, as you will learn more later.

On a personal note, I liked songs from East and Central Africa and Zimbabwe too- as those of the vinyls. We had a family - Supersonic radio in those years. It was red in colour and some of you will remember those radios. They were so good in those years- the 70s. That was a high- class radio in my community and in those years. It was a dear and was so close to me as though the parents bought it personally for me. So I used to listen to music especially from East & Central Africa but also Zimbabwe and, of course, great hits from Malawi like States Samangaya and the Police Orchestra, Che- Nasawa Nkukupa and the Super Kaso band. A & B sounds and others.

 I used to sing along the popular hits in those years and this brought me in love with singing- music.

Some of my likes in the hose years were Tabley, Sir Franco Luwambo Makiadi and other popular groups from East Africa not forgetting Oraja Mazikatire & the Ocean City band from Zimbabwe- I liked the hit Gore- not sure of the real title. I liked the song Knemo from East Africa, Sina Makosa and many more. I still remember the stanza- Ataka ku niuwa bule(may not be the right spelling); the song- Mashemeji Yangapi? Etc.

So I was soaked in that music environment and you can see my future in Music. 

But above what I have written above, I can boldly say that my talent is a GIFT FROM GOD. Why do I say that? The answer is simple. My friends who were brought up with me or brought up in exactly the same environment with me, many of whom are Muslims, are not professional music artists. so I do understand that it's a gift from GOD to me and I praise HIM for that. 

Therefore, It was not a mistake that my first Album was Gospel Reggae with my first Band, the Zion Ambassadors. My first album was We Wanna Go To Zion. That was some years later, when I moved form my district- Mangochi- to continue my education and staying with my cousin, in the commercial city, Blantyre. I have recorded traditional songs as well and backed by Saleta Phiri and AB Sounds. He was one of the traditional music giants in my country- Saleta Phiri. But mainly, I started my professional music journey with Gospel Reggae- in the late 90s. Again, my first album was "WE WANNA GO TO ZION." That was the first professional product of my music back-ground. BUT ABOVE ALL, MY MUSIC IS A GIFT FROM GOD and passed through that lingering road.

MY JOURNEY IN MUSIC CONTINUES.

From that back-ground, I left Mangochi- Fort Johnston- around 1985 to stay with my cousin and continue my education in the commercial city- Blantyre.

THE BEGINNING OF MY PROFESSIONAL MUSIC JOURNEY.

While in Blantyre, I stayed in a town called Ndirande and attended Ndirande Anglican Church for prayers. When I finished my form four, I joined the choir at that Church- as I had enough time during that period. It was not intentional but after one prayer service, a choir member, I still remember his name to be Osward, just stood as I was picking myself from the pew and he said that I and other few members, should join the choir. That was how I joined the choir at Ndirande Anglican Church. There was a popular actor in drama in my country by the name of Jacobs Mwase a.k.a a Zakariya. We were all in the same choir. Jacobs Mwase and myself sung bass and we also did the traditional drumming in the choir and calling ourselves- kang'oma- the small drum. 

I begun work at the headquarters of one of the biggest shoe companies in the world. But later, I was transferred to a popular town called Limbe, to be working in the retail outlets. The company sponsored a giant football club then and some of its players were working in the retail outlets, like me, as well.

Together with another cousin who was working for a bank in the same town, we decided to leave Ndirande and move on to a town close to Limbe and we moved to Bangwe township as young bachelors. I left the Ndirande Anglican Church choir as I moved to this new location. When I left and after a certain period then came up the popular Ndirande Anglican voices which once travelled to the UK for a music tour under the Anglican Church. It replaced my previous crew but my elder cousin's son, joined it and one member of my former choir.

In Bangwe, I joined St. Martins Anglican Church choir and become the choir master. I then formed a casual youthful band to be singing during choir festivals and other functions, apart from the main choir.

Later on, when I was sent to be relief branch manager for a branch in my former township, I met a guy passing by the shop with an electric guitar, his father was a painter and music instruments' repairer. The guy's name was Lyson Njati- the uncle Lai of the famous song- Makwatirakwatira. But he was not yet known then. I called him for a music program and he brought along Robert Banda- Nello and Alexander Mbewe. 

Robert Banda, later joined Billy Kaunda and was working in his studio and produced some of his popular hits like Mphinjika, after Billy left Balaka. So Lyson Njati brought along Alexander Mbewe and Robert Banda. I begun a band with these guys and called it, the Zion Ambassadors, doing Gospel Reggae. There were also other popular bands and arts in this location- Ndirande- like Saleta Phiri & AB Sounds- who later backed me four traditional songs recorded at studio K by Patrick Khoza and sponsored by Dr John Chipembere Lwanda of Pamtondo records- Glasgow, Scotland. There was Black Angels but also, the popular Reggae band- the Jupiters of the John Namalimwe and his friends. So I was staying in Bangwe but working as a relief branch manager in my old location- Ndirande- and starting my journey as a professional artist by forming my first Band with the guys I have mentioned above.

We recorded our first album, as highlighted earlier, tittled- WE WANNA GO TO ZION. We did a live studio recording at Baptist Media by Rev. Fletcher Kaiya but we mixed it at studio K.

Some years later I left work to concentrate on my personal programs.

I then travelled to South Africa to record another album. I travelled with a demo and the instruments were done by the talented - Robert Banda. We were staying together in the latter years.

In South Africa, I met Ras Ron and later James Sekatane at Mega Music. I arrange to record my music at Mayfair, the studio that records Platform 1, Fred Gwala, Vusi Shange and other artists. I wanted ladies to back up the voices; back- up singers. The studio manager told me he would arrange two young ladies Sasa- who backed Brenda and Nani- lead singer for platform 1. I met Nani and asked for the charge to back the whole album. But my budget could could not accommodate the cost and Ras Ron found for me two other ladies from Soweto- Thabisa and Tanana and they backed me in the studios and one song- was backed by Deliwe Sifunda. Ras Ron( Robert Mngonyama) who once came to Malawi playing bass guitar for Senzo Mthethwa, played all the guitars. James Sekatane played the keyboards and one song- by Joseph Madivane.

MY JOURNEY IN MUSIC CONTINUES.

My project was finished in a good note and waiting to return home. But then I met the director of Mc Villa Music company- Mr Vil- Jeon. He was interested in my music and asked me to wait as he did a research for the market of my music which was done in English, Chichewa and my traditional language- Yao. This language is spoken in the South and Eastern part of Malawi, Mozambique and parts of Tanzania. Remember my traditional music back-ground( my Yao tradition), it popped up in my professional music- later in this journey. 

So he found my market in the Northern Province and the proper marketing/ distribution company there, was Gallo records. So he advised me to go to Gallo and if it did not work, I should still come with my second album- which I was likely to do all in English since it could be focused on the South African market. Bapsy Mlangeni opened for me a door to connect with the marketing manager for Gallo records and I was invited to Gallo, where Luck Dube was doing his music.

Before I went there, I just thought to come home, launch my album- Khale- which was in English, Chichewa and Yao then travel back to South Africa to concentrate on those deals. It was a nice idea to me but I did not tell the marketing manager for Gallo records that I planned to travel home first and would come back to South Africa later.

So, I travelled to Malawi. Ladies and gentlemen (not gentlemen and ladies and I do not know why this old - English structure is favourite in that way) but I was not able to travel back to South Africa, as planned, due to different circumstances.

I joined the Musicians Association Of Malawi here at home and became the vice chairman for the Southern region. We managed to put together MAM as a national organization through our meetings- the national chairman was Dave Mafuleka. But the national meetings were held within our regional meetings at the French Cultural Center. We managed to set up the MAM secretariat for the first time with a full - time secretary. We chose trustees for the organization including Joeff Gondwe and Geoffrey Kazembe.

Other prominent arts in that crew were: Overtone Chimbombo- the chair for the South and other Love Aquarius band members including Ada Manda; Wycliffe Chimwendo, Stanley Mthenga, Peter Likhomo and Collen Ali, Adams family, William Kamgoga, Beatrice & Ethel Kamwendo and their brother- who was also my friend. Jedde I, Juda I and some Artists from the Rastafarian community not forgetting the Chosen generation. Ben Michael Mankhamba, Patrick Simakweli, Goodson Gomonda of the Kaduwa fame, Wellington Chatepa and other artists.

We were able to organize music competitions, most of which, Ben Michael came out the best performing artist, he was doing traditional music. We helped settle conflicts, we helped unite artists from Balaka to those in Blantyre. We travelled there- three of us- Overtone Chimombo, Elton Kazembe and mself. We met Lucius Banda, Charles Sinetre and Foster Chimangafisi and discussed oneness of artists from the two blocks.

It was at that time that I strongly felt to serve the Lord for the rest of my life. I resigned from the organization, leaving my friends. I left the Anglican congregation to concentrate on my full- time ministry; music and business.

Since then, my music career was not active as I embarked on setting up my ministry- The Cross's Victory but I managed to record a non- serious album then, titled, Jerusalem. When pressure of setting up ministry became small, I recorded a serious album titled Winner, which I am promoting, marketing and available on the digital market as well. I am also arranging to put my first album- We Wanna Go To Zion- on the digital market. 

In short, I have done four albums in my music Journey.

My vision now is to set a a professional Christian music group- band- to finish up the remaining part of my music journey. I will also stop singing Reggae and do classic Gospel music and other few genres.

CORRECTION OF A CONTROVERSY & A FEW MEMORIES.

Before I left the Anglican Church, at one time, one of the daily papers in my country wrote that I -George Mbendera -was injured while settling up a conflict involving another artist- late Thomas Chibade- MHSRIP.

The incident took place right in my district and people were calling me asking what happened.

To clarify the issue, there is another George Mbendera that many Malawians do not know. He is in the music industry but a guitarist but not a recording artist. He is younger. I met him once while he was travelling with the Alleluia band and some band members asked whether I knew him. They called him and we met for the first time and bearing exactly the same name but he comes from the capital -where there are some relatives of the Mbendera household but I did not ask him whether he is related to them. That was my first time to meet him but by then, he had not recorded any official songs. It was me, that the nation knew by then. Although I can't confirm that he was the one -that people thought was me- but I believe so because we bear exactly the same name.

I discovered on Google that he is coming up with a video. So when that story was written in the Nations News Paper, I kept quiet but I suspected, for sure, that he might be the one and I believe you will know him when he starts to record music. On the day of the incident I, with some Church mbera, was visiting a member of our congregation who was bereaved. I was the one of the ministers at that small function- in the afternoon of that Sunday. I was not away to my home district where that incident took place. I was here in Blantyre and attended a Church service at St. Martins Anglican Church. 

So I want people to know the truth of that story. The News Paper put it correctly but people thought I was the one involved that is why I am clarify this. But I did not reply neither make any clarification through the same paper that time. So the nation was not aware that there were two artist with exactly the same name- George Mbendera. People knew only the writer of this biography. Therefore, I have never got involved in any violet conflict with any artist since I started singing neither got injured due to the same.

OUR DIFFERENCE.

I would like to help readers and fans to draw the the following differences between him and myself when he starts to record official music.

- He is younger.

- He comes from Lilongwe and I come from Mangochi.

- I am a pastor and he is not a pastor.

- I have been doing mainly Gospel Reggae and a few traditional songs.

- I have another name which I sometimes use as an artistic name- Enock- my Christian name.

I believe these will help you to differentiate the two of us in case he starts to record official music. But I do not say he was the one but I believe so.

Lastly, I would like to share with you one memorable incident in my music Journey.

There was a music competition that we organised and one of the rules was that only traditional songs were allowed. But the artists- Evison Matafale, Ras Waza and myself were adamant that we would still sing Reggae music regardless of the fact that we would be disqualified. Evison Matafale was popular with Wasesereka.

During one of those music meetings, Evison Matafale whispered to me from my back saying, " this people are very cruel." I still remember the whisper.

We loved reggae music to the extent that we could break some of the competition rules and never cared about qualifying. But I am now going to stop doing Gospel music in Reggae; as I have previously indicated; I am going to be doing classic music and other few genres.

From the family, Traditional, political and the Church background plus the personal initiatives that I applied on to the former, I STILL CONCLUDE THAT, MY MUSIC IS A GIFT FROM GOD. I BELIEVE THAT IT WAS GIVEN TO ME, THAT I SHOULD BRING GLORY TO CHRIST but I did not know or discern it at the beginning. I was just a Yao boy on a journey of music.

I am looking forward to the time when I will sing a song and people get delivered from their ailments and totally set free in the Name of JESUS CHRIST and giving back the glory to the Giver of good gifts.

²⁵ But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.

²⁶ Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone's chains were loosed.

Acts 16:25-26(NKJV).

My music is distributed by CD Baby and can be accessed through Spotify and all digital music platforms including Audiomack, Bandcamp, SoundCloud, Reverbnation and of cause, my website's digital store.

You can also follow me on all major social media platforms including Facebook/https://www.facebook.com/share/N777VzF2Kc9vk5to/?mibextid=qi2Omg

- George Mbendera.

Twitter/ X@enockmbendera.

Thanks and all glory be to GOD.

Bless you all.

George Enock!!!