Future Kings Vibrations

A very special group from a remote village north of Mzuzu, Future Kings are led by frontman Thomas, an all round musician in his mid 30s with a memorable voice and style, who has been blind from birth. The guitar, bass and drums used by the band are all home made, and the other band members are teenagers from Thomas' village. The best rehearsed band on Titenge Udindo, Future Kings always make a great impact with their upbeat melodies and playing skills, and are a joy to record despite the technical challenges posed by some of their instruments.

Martha Mithuka

Often featuring Aliona on background vocals, Martha's gospel sound is well known throughout Malawi. She earns her living working in the civil service.

Abigail Malipandi

A young singer from Zambia, Abigail was living in Lilongwe when ITFL recorded Titenge Udindo (2009) and HIV is not a Crime (2010). Introduced by ITFL trustee Q Malawezi at a café where she used to work, Abigail turned out to be a very quick and prolific melody writer.

Jonathan Tembo

A young musician and songwriter who first collaborated with ITFL in Mzuzu 2009, when his song Wali-waliyose was chosen as the soundtrack to the Mofanana video. Jonathan had moved south to Lilongwe to study by the time the next collaboration came round in 2011. A talented composer, Jonathan loves developing his audio engineering ability, and specifically his recording and mixing skills.

Masudie Khonjie

A singer/songwriter from Mzuzu in the north of Malawi, Masudie has a gospel background and - often singing together with with Aliona Banda - a strong social message, set apart by unique vocals, strong compositional skills, and a super professional studio workrate. Masudie's haunting vocal tone defines some standout tracks on this album.

Aliona Banda

Aliona earns a living buying and selling car parts, often travelling to Zimbabwe and Tanzania to do so. Singing doesn't sustain a living, but she's built herself a good profile throughout Malawi all the same.

Mtendere Band

A group of youngsters who sing songs about the troubles of HIV and AIDS, often performing for patients in an HIV clinic at a rural hospital in Neno, a remote area in the south of Malawi. The Mtendere Band travelled a full day to record with us in Blantyre, bringing their traditional sound and home-made instruments with them.

Marlyn Chakwera

We first heard Marlyn sing at a Lilongwe event for the empowerment of women and were blown away by her voice - then delighted to find that she worked at our longstanding partner, Music Crossroads Malawi!  Marlyn teaches music to young children and is a director of the MCM choir also featured on this album.  'Sankha Moyo,' which means 'choose life,' encourages people not to give up, to stand up for themselves in the face of adversity.  It was an obvious choice for the album title track. 

Music Crossroads Malawi Model Choir 2011

It was a pleasure to work with this talented and inventive group - 40+ singers form around Lilongwe and a fixture at Music Crossroads events, conducted by the inimitable Luckson, whose skills can be seen in action on our Youtube channel.  It was also a technical challenge to record such a large group, but the unique mix of the old, the new, the classical and the traditional Malawian influences (plus a few strategically timed power cuts) made it one of the more memorable recording projects we've experienced to date.  

Young Kay, Maskal & Dezzy T

Charissa Band

Newly formed at the time of recording, Charissa Band are fronted by Shikunzi (pictured), whose voice and enthusiasm were familiar to us from her singing on the Daughters Band song 'There's a way out' from Titenge Udindo 2.  A keen group of musicians, most of whom were involved in work at ITFL partner Music Crossroads, Charissa's surfeit of ideas and desire to push themselves meant the song was continuously rewritten as it was being recorded.

Nyach

One of a couple of really exceptional rappers involved in the Majuto project, Nyach impressed us with his prolific ideas and incredible technical ability as well as a strong and genuine desire to use music for the benefit of others.  A great guy and a pleasure to work with - here's hoping our paths cross again.

Kwame

From his own site: 

Once in a while an artist comes along that creates a feeling of nostalgia. They take you on a journey musically and you cannot help but reminisce on days gone by, and all your favourite artists from yesteryear. Meet Kwame, a singer and a songwriter under the Click Track Records umbrella. The young, talented artist, who sings in Kikuyu, Kiswahili and English, has become a leader of his own style. 

Kwame is a seriously impressive singer and his song Holela, with the accompanying video animated by Nancy Ellis, has been making an impact in Kenya since we finishied it in early 2011.  We predict great things...

Radi

A musician with great ideas, a strong social motivation and an established career, Radi really came into her own as leader of the Majuto group, spearheading the ongoing effort to launch and promote the album throughout 2011 and 2012.  Tireless, committed and imaginative, we're particularly luck to be working with her.

Kioko

Joseph Kaberi

With a strong gospel background, focus, a powerful voice, and a wealth of songwriting ideas, in Zaidi ya Maneno Joseph just might have created the most anthemic track of any ITFL album.  Lighters out...

Banku Afrika

An experienced and well-travelled band, Banku Afrika can be found performing their traditional acoustic music-and-dance shows around some of Nairobi's finest establishents, and as far afield as Europe and Japan if they happen to be touring.  Easy to work with, fun to be with, they showed Joe some really good times around Nairobi - not least when he ended up doing live sound for a community benefit gig they had arranged in their home neighbourhood.  Banku Afrika are well know and heavily engaged in community work, and the messages and energy in their music reflect that.

The Addvoket (Chiso Nkhoma)

Possibly the most talented rapper we've worked with, skilled, prolific and charming, he may sound like he's from the US but he's actually from... Malawi!  Confusingly enough, this Malawian expat was a big part of the Kenya project, driving things forward with lyrical and production skills.  Hopefully he'll be a long time collaborator with ITFL.  In his own words:

With a debut album out titled: The World is Black and White but Love is Grey, there ain't no stopping this brother. His music oozes a conscious level of depth and a sense of hip-hop maturity that is truly unique with a mix of soulful rhymes due to his love for neo-soul. Having performed in the best of events including WAPI, SLAM AFRICA, TGIT (Thank God It's Thursday) and many more, The Addvoket is ready for the world stage.

Foreman & Sammy Chizi

An artist already engaged in HIV awareness work, exploring the power of music to reach people with prevention and anti-stigma messages, Foreman (pictured) was a fun collaborator.  His laid back vocals and the sunny production by talented Nairobi producer Sammy Chizi make Tuliza this one of the loveliest and most upbeat tracks on this album.

Under Construction

Under Construction had only just formed when we recorded their song, and are unusual throughout the ITFL projects to date in being what might be described simply as a rock band. Proud of representing their genre and skills in a uniquely Kenyan form, and keen to write and record positive music while they hone their craft as individuals and as a band, their positive attitude should stand them in very good stead in the future.

Cynthia

A versatile young singer willing to push herself and try different styles and genres of music, Cynthia was made to do just that when the producer we expected to attend her session failed to turn up (a common problem...).  Selecting a production from ITFL team member Jason Air, out of nowhere she pulled this astonishing and powerful paean to female empowerment in the face of oppression and violence.  We love this track.

M-Ricks

Pepe Haze

Photo courtesy of rumbaa.com

Kay

A talented young singer driven by a desire to get her messages across to anyone who will listen, Kay is a great collaborator and very efficient behind the mic.  She really shone in a busy and hectic session.

Grand Master Masese

Well used to travelling across Africa demonstrating his mastery of the obokhano, Masese has been vocal in his support of the Majuto project since the album was released, and we hope to be working with him in one way or another for many years.

He's more than a musician, though - in his own words, Dennis Dancan Mosiere aka Grandmaster Masese is a poet, musician, actor, writer/editor and a Pan African Fahamu Fellow for Social Justice.  You can read his blog here.

Brian Nkhata aka God's Fav

Brian is a producer from Lilongwe who has built himself a strong reputation in Malawi's burgeoning domestic hip-hop scene.

Cyclone

A rapper from Malawi's capital, Lilongwe, Cyclone's lyrics reflect a powerful will to succeed. He played a special and important role in pulling together the Titenge Udindo 2 project, not least in setting a musical example by articulating powerful opposition to the controversial and stigmatizing HIV Bill that was before the Malawian Parliament at the time.

Gwamba

Another Malawian rapper, Gwamba rhymes in the native language of Chichewa. Vocally tight and always expressive, like Cyclone, Gwamba writes with a social motive.

Daughters Band

A very talented female duo of singers who formed a band in Lilongwe, the Daughters are led by Chikonzi, who writes most of their songs. Strong vocals, noticeable in an environment where the vast majority of non-Gospel musicians are men, the Daughters also write songs with a strong social motive.

Dice Mabuleki

Mr Mabuleki is a personable and relaxed gentleman from the south of Malawi, and sung a song about the importance of good behaviour towards one's fellow humans and the insignificance of wealth in the absence of health. Multitalented and technically skilled, Mr Mabuleki played all the instruments in the song at once, as well as singing.

Rudo Chakwera

With a strong, relaxed, beautiful and powerful voice, Rudo is a kind, personable character and a breath of fresh air to work with. A stalwart of the Malawi arts scene, she collaborates strongly and widely.

Konkalaz

Growing in skills and experience, Konkalaz play live as often as they can, and put on a powerful live show. With complex, multilayered arrangements and ideas, and encouraging, socially-driven lyrics that avoid the usual clichés, their work is interesting and always energetic.

Luckson Chazima

An experienced singer, music teacher and unforgettable choirmaster, Luckson is kind, friendly, energetic and a boon to any and every session. Well known in the Malawi scene, not least through his work with Music Crossroads and his leadership of the Malawi Model Choir featured on Sankha Moyo, Luckson is also a good man to turn to when you need to find collaborators fast!

Beck Kahn

An elegant and enigmatic gentleman who writes songs in what he describes as a traditional style, Beck composes and sings, and also helps out at Music Crossroads.

William Chinsinga

A talented keyboardist, William played the keyboard for many of the bands on Titenge Udindo 2. A master at building and adapting arrangements at very short notice, William has a strong rep for being quick and easy to work with.

Qabaniso Malawezi

ITFL trustee, talented rapper, songwriter producer and poet and a proud Malawian... Q works hard throughout Malawi to engage young people in different artistic projects, and is one of the most widely and evenly multitalented people we've had the pleasure to meet. Without Q, all of our work would be a shadow of what it is.

Masudie Khonjie

A singer/songwriter from Mzuzu in the north of Malawi, Masudie has a gospel background and - often singing together with with Aliona Banda - a strong social message, set apart by unique vocals, strong compositional skills, and a super professional studio workrate. Masudie's haunting vocal tone defines some standout tracks on this album.

Aliona Banda

Aliona earns a living buying and selling car parts, often travelling to Zimbabwe and Tanzania to do so. Singing doesn't sustain a living, but she's built herself a good profile throughout Malawi all the same.

Mtendere Band

A group of youngsters who sing songs about the troubles of HIV and AIDS, often performing for patients in an HIV clinic at a rural hospital in Neno, a remote area in the south of Malawi. The Mtendere Band travelled a full day to record with us in Blantyre, bringing their traditional sound and home-made instruments with them.

Lemekeza Phiri

A self-taught piano player and a manager of one of Lilongwe's most well-known recording studios, Lemmy is as useful behind the desk as he is behind the keys, and works with some of Malawi's foremost musicians, including the internationally famous Lucius Banda. An old hand at Music Crossroads, Lemmy also plays a big part in passing on skills and experience to younger musicians and engineers.

Konga Vibes

Winners of the 7th Music Crossroads InterRegional Festival, Konga Vibes are the one of the most vibrant bands in Malawi, and toured Europe in 2007. The experience they provide audiences is uniquely African, combing traditional local styles of Beni, Manganje, Vimbuza and Chitererathe with the influences of their roots reggae past. Rapidly gaining a strong home crowd following, the group has become an inspiration for fellow musicians and Malawian youth demonstrating that through music, anything is possible.They cover a lot of ground and can often be found performing at Malawi's more animated nightspots.

Thanks to Music Crossroads Malawi for the info and the photo

Ocean Clef du Fa

Lyton

A Zimbabwean producer who travelled all the way to Lilongwe to work on this project, Lyton is a very proficient studio musician who can work up melodies, arrangements and beats with unbelievable speed.

Helen Maulidi

Helen's characteristic vocal tone and unique songwriting approach made her song Anawaa one of the most unusual and catchy tracks on the album. Earning her living at Lilongwe's famous Sunset hotel, Helen is good friends with Martha Mituka, another well known face on the local gospel scene.

Maurice Chapola & Chipirilu

Introduced by Qabaniso Malawezi, or Q, who knew them from his involvement in a local clinic, Maurice and Chipiliru have both been orphaned by HIV. Very keen to do music, and mentored by Q, they were inspired by the chance to use this project as a means to sing their story.

Kula Band

An intriguing group blending modern arrangements and ideas with a Malawian sound, and traditional and electric instruments, Kula Band are an impressively skilled bunch of instrumentalists. With an ability for really tight live performances driven by a great team understanding within the group, they were ambitious and skillful and a pleasure to record.

Body, Mind and Soul

Well-known throughout Malawi and elsewhere, BMS have extensive touring experience, having won a Music Crossroads competition several years ago that sent them to Belgium to record. Their music is characterized by elaborate arrangements and a unique, hard-to-pin-down sound. Sadly, their drummer/percussionist McEwen Manda died in a road accident weeks after recording with us - we hope that the recordings we made together can contribute something to the legacy of a wonderful musician and a great colleague.

Mbalinga

A rapper from the north of Malawi, Mbalinga came to record with us in a disused radio station, composing, writing and recording his track in a single day. Despite the heat and total lack of air conditioning or natural light, he was a model professional throughout, and blessed us with a great track.

ABC Group

ABC are a Lilongwe community and theatre group of former sex workers trained by Theatre for a Change Malawi to spread HIV prevention messages throughout their communities. Their song uses a traditional call and response pattern to engage audiences in the message, and when it's accompanied by their inclusive theatre workshop activities, the performance becomes a powerful and immersive experience.

Qabaniso Malawezi

ITFL trustee, talented rapper, songwriter producer and poet and a proud Malawian... Q works hard throughout Malawi to engage young people in different artistic projects, and is one of the most widely and evenly multitalented people we've had the pleasure to meet. Without Q, all of our work would be a shadow of what it is.

Future Kings Vibrations

A very special group from a remote village north of Mzuzu, Future Kings are led by frontman Thomas, an all round musician in his mid 30s with a memorable voice and style, who has been blind from birth. The guitar, bass and drums used by the band are all home made, and the other band members are teenagers from Thomas' village. The best rehearsed band on Titenge Udindo, Future Kings always make a great impact with their upbeat melodies and playing skills, and are a joy to record despite the technical challenges posed by some of their instruments.

Martha Mithuka

Often featuring Aliona on background vocals, Martha's gospel sound is well known throughout Malawi. She earns her living working in the civil service.

Ekwendeni Youth Resource Centre Band

A group of youths from the Ekwendeni Centre in the north of Malawi, this band is heavily engaged in community activities, writing music that encourages the community to improve its situation through HIV prevention and anti-stigma campaigning.

Abigail Malipandi

A young singer from Zambia, Abigail was living in Lilongwe when ITFL recorded Titenge Udindo (2009) and HIV is not a Crime (2010). Introduced by ITFL trustee Q Malawezi at a café where she used to work, Abigail turned out to be a very quick and prolific melody writer.

Jonathan Tembo

A young musician and songwriter who first collaborated with ITFL in Mzuzu 2009, when his song Wali-waliyose was chosen as the soundtrack to the Mofanana video. Jonathan had moved south to Lilongwe to study by the time the next collaboration came round in 2011. A talented composer, Jonathan loves developing his audio engineering ability, and specifically his recording and mixing skills.

Masudie Khonjie

A singer/songwriter from Mzuzu in the north of Malawi, Masudie has a gospel background and - often singing together with with Aliona Banda - a strong social message, set apart by unique vocals, strong compositional skills, and a super professional studio workrate. Masudie's haunting vocal tone defines some standout tracks on this album.

Aliona Banda

Aliona earns a living buying and selling car parts, often travelling to Zimbabwe and Tanzania to do so. Singing doesn't sustain a living, but she's built herself a good profile throughout Malawi all the same.

MYRC

A vibrant, exciting group of singers, composers, dancers and rappers, MYRC had been doing HIV outreach work in communities surrounding Bo for several years, visiting market days, football matches and nightclubs to spread good advice on HIV prevention through dance, music and role plays. Through the HIV e-dae-o project, they were able to extend their reach throughout the local area, and build a rep across the country through radio and TV coverage of their work.