Musicians make business out of elections

Malawian musicians have made business out of the May19 parliamentary and presidential elections, but the impact of their services is yet to be analyzed.

The trend started with renowned Malawian musician, Lucius Banda, in 2004, when he did the hit song "Yellow" for the then ruling United Democratic Front (UDF). It did not take long for other musicians, including Joseph Nkasa who did 'Mose wa Lero', to emulate that gimmick that, to date, there are well over 100 songs composed for political campaign purposes.

Nkasa has also done some songs for parliamentary candidates.  The MPs who have hired musicians to do bits for them, bits they are using at constituency level, include Ellock Maotcha Banda for Chikwawa Central, Sidik Mia for Chikwawa Mkombezi, among others, while presidential candidates who have benefited from the same include incumbent Bingu wa Mutharika, United Democratic Front's Bakili Muluzi (now barred from contesting by the Electoral Commission) and James Nyondo- who has a paid up hit dedicated to him. The song was done by Prince Masache and Alex Chamasowa.

Lommie Mafunga, one of the musicians who have played a song for Mutharika, acknowledged in an interview there was money behind the recent trend by musicians.

Mafunga, a veteran musician who once brushed shoulders with the likes of Allan Namoko,Daniel Kachamba, among others, said some musicians were charging K60,000 for a song done for an aspiring MP while those for presidential candidates ranged from K60,000 to K300,000.

"It is a sound business," he said.

He, however, said he has not received anything for his song praising Mutharika because his aim was to help pass the message of the DPP's presidential torch-bearer.

Other musicians who have recorded hits for political purposes include Joseph Tembo and Mutharika himself, who did a rendition of the song 'Tiyende Pamodzi' .

However, Lucius Banda is on record to have warned that once a musicians starts playing politics, the album sales on the local music market all but dwindle.

He is a living witness.

AEP/Richard Chirombo