Breaking the 12-year silence, Nde’feyo Entertainment, a pioneering force in Malawi’s urban music, is coming back. The revival is centred on a string of concerts, reuniting past musicians from the now-defunct label and music management company.
Ken ‘Zizwa’ Limwame, co-founder and former CEO of Nde’feyo Entertainment states that these events aim to honour the significant impact the label had on the evolution of urban music in the country. Limwame expressed pride in their contributions, highlighting the legacy that served as a springboard for ventures into other entertainment industries.
“Our former artists continue to dominate the music scene, and we can confidently say we transformed the game,” he told MBC.
Chitoliro Productionz, a new Malawian entertainment outfit, is organising these shows. The events will not only pay homage to Nde’feyo Entertainment’s legacy but will also provide promotional opportunities for emerging artists. The strings of gigs are slated for February in Lilongwe, before heading to Blantyre and other areas in March this year.
Among the featured musicians are Piksy, Maskal, and Onesimus, previously known as Armstrong during his time with Nde’feyo. Apart from the three artists, the record label had a string of other musicians such as Patience Namadingo, Bucci, McLuther, Mada Ngoleka, and Trumel.
On whether the series of concerts will incorporate all artists, Limwame said “We are hoping to make this show an annual event, so there will be opportunities for all willing former Nde’feyo artists.”
One of the involved artists Piksy said he is looking forward to performing the hit song ‘Wa CV’ which he did with Maskal under the label.
“People should expect fire as always and lots of fun. I will perform some of the old music too. And I can’t wait for ‘Wa CV’. It’s been over 10 years since we performed it together with Maskal,” he said.
He added that Nde’feyo’s involvement in the urban music industry was a huge milestone for the country in general and himself in particular.
“Urban music back then was not taken seriously, Nde’feyo helped to shape it into the industry it is today,” Piksy told MBC. “When I took music as a full-time career, it helped their [Nde’feyo] dreams of making urban music a serious industry that a lot of people depend on today.”
Peering into the future, Limwame envisions a bright outlook for Malawi’s music, particularly in the urban genre, now considered mainstream.
