Steeped in the history of slavery and still influenced by the church, a cappella still remains one of the oldest music genres.
Unlike other genres such as jazz, reggae, hip-hop and RnB, which are popular in Malawi, a cappella is yet to get a foothold on the music scene. In cases where a cappella groups are operating, they are either attached to a church or operate off the main music scene.
Although a cappella is technically defined as singing without music, the styles of a cappella have grown and some groups use their voices to emulate instruments while other groups, especially those attached to churches, are more conventional and focus on harmonising.
By why is a cappella not popular despite being an old genre?
Rodgers Mpinganjira, music director for Joyful Souls one of the active a cappella groups in the country, said unlike in the past, a cappella is receiving massive support even when music accompanied by instruments is at its peak.
Mpinganjira said this is reflected in the turn up at their shows.
“We have a combination of the youth, the middle aged and the elderly. In most cases the venues we perform at are fully packed,” he said.
Mpinganjira believes that there are few a cappella groups in the country because a cappella songs are hard to compose.
“We are talking of composing a song that will take, let’s say four minutes, using just the voice unlike other music genres that are accompanied by instruments, where at some point in the song the instruments would play without voices. As such, most people are lazy to compose a cappella songs,” he said.
Mpinganjira argued that there is little knowledge on music in Malawi, hence most people go for songs and not music.
“A cappella requires you to know music. Another reason is that the reception of a cappella music at first was not that good because the genre was new such that it took us courage to start producing it. Further, because the reception is not that huge compared to that of other music genres; things are hard,” he said.
Another aspect that leads to a reduced number of a cappella groups in Malawi has everything to do with commercial aspects.
“Internationally, a cappella on its own bears many genres like jazz, reggae; as such it has reception. Here in Malawi we don’t have knowledge of music genres, so it is because of the commercial aspect that most
people don’t like to venture into a cappella music. It only takes passion,” he said.
Mpinganjira, however, pointed out that looking at the patronage at their shows over the past years, people are now coming to appreciate a cappella.
“A cappella has picked up big time. We had a show recently at Comesa Hall in Blantyre and the turn up was good. For that reason I can say people have started appreciating the genre. The coming in of guest artists such as Ladysmith Black Mambazo from South Africa and Durant from USA has helped to spice up our shows for the enjoyment of our audience,” he said.
Mpinganjira explained that the future of a cappella looks bright due to the response it is getting.
Steve Chiwaya, music director for We Are One, another a cappella outfit, said their group aims to reach out to everyone regardless of age or denomination.
Chiwaya argued that even though people attribute a cappella music to the Seventh Day Adventist Church, their songs are composed to suit everyone.
“Since it was new when we started out in 2001, people did not understand it and they thought it belonged to the Seventh Day Adventist Church, when it the actual sense it is for everyone,” he said.
Chiwaya explained that they chose a cappella because they wanted to be expressing themselves with the voices God gave them.
“Some of the members in our group know how to play various instruments but it’s a choice to be singing without instruments. We also believe that the voice is a powerful instrument,” he said.
Musicians Union of Malawi, Chimwemwe Mhango, said there are a lot of a cappella groups in the country even though only a few make it on the national level.
“We are at a turning point. We have more a cappella groups but with the passage of time most groups have started incorporating instruments in the music because instruments have become integral. For this reason, the a cappella standards have gone down in Malawi. They are blending in with instruments because of live shows,” he said.
Mhango believes that every nation has their own music taste and style and in Malawi most people love music they can possibly dance to.
“We used to listen to a cappella in the past but now the trend in music has changed; even church choirs which were previously singing without musical instruments started using them. A cappella music is about the voice and if we are incorporating instruments then it means it’s no longer a cappella,” he said.
Mhango explained that if a cappella is to stay alive in the country, there is need to find ways to promote the genre.
“Radio and television stations need to introduce programmes for a cappella music which would encourage those with interest in that type of music who would record music or form a cappella groups,” he said.
Leave a Reply