Zomba Prison Band made history for Malawi when they became the first group to be nominated for the 58th Grammy Awards which were held in Los Angeles, USA in February, 2016.
The group made up of inmates and prison warders was not at all known in the country until their nomination which came through their 20-track album I Have No Everything Here.
Their nomination was in the category of Best World Music Album which unfortunately they failed to win as it went to Benin-born singer-songwriter Angelique Kidjo.
This album was more like a project which started in the summer of 2013 when Grammy-winning producer, Ian Brennan (Tinariwen, Ramblin’ Jack Elliott, TV on the Radio) and his wife, Italian photographer and filmmaker, Marilena Delli, travelled to Malawi specifically to document and record the music of prisoners at the maximum security prison in Zomba.
So the music in I Have No Everything Here talks about the life at Zomba Prison and features songs from other inmates as well.
Over five dozen people were recorded for the Zomba Prison project sessions, totaling more than six hours of music.
Most of the songs in this album are raw and needed refining although it is worth noting that the sound is rich and original with the African feel and it is probably this sound and the messages therein that attracted its nomination.
The band did come out in February soon after the Grammy Awards to announce that they have a second album on the ground.
Having taken a huge step with their debut album, Zomba Prison Band is now out with its second album Umboni Ndilinawo.
Unlike in the first album where they had 20 tracks most of which were raw and most of which were recorded in a hurry, the second album has 10 songs.
Malawi Prison Service Public Relations Officer Smart Maliro said on Wednesday that the group is intact and vibrant and that the release of their second album just proves that their first outing was not a fluke.
“The first album for us was a foundation as well as making a statement to the world that there is a band of inmates and warders at Zomba Maximum Prison. This is a band that is there not only to entertain but to spread different messages,” said Maliro.
And true to his word the band has been on its toes since their nomination holding performances in different places.
“People should support us as a group and utilise us in different events. As a band we take ourselves as members of one family although we have inmates and warders. There are lots of mature songs in the second album some of which are talking about the prison being a place for reform,” he said.
Maliro said the group would love to launch the album in style but they do not have enough resources and that for now they would be holding pre-launch shows.
Maliro could not say how many copies of the album they have managed to produce for the market but he was quick to say that they want to make it possible that they have enough.
“We want to raise enough and this is why we are calling upon organisations to utilise us in their events and as I said, it’s not all about entertainment but spreading the message,” said Maliro.
Zomba Prison Band on Wednesday performed at Comesa in Blantyre during the 28th International Trade Fair where they attracted interest from people.
Their performance at trade fair was courtesy of National Initiative for Civic Education (Nice) which thought it wise to bring them to Blantyre to spread different messages.
“We are thankful to Nice for giving us an opportunity to perform at trade fair and this also gave us an opportunity to perform to a different audience and also for people to see us live. Many people still haven’t watched us live,” he said.
Maliro boosted that this album is massive “because the members have taken their time and they worked so hard to put the songs together.”
He also said that some well wishers have been coming out to help them by buying equipment.
“We have our own equipment and we are thankful to people who have come out to support us. The other equipment came from US while the other guitars were donated by MultiChoice Malawi,” said Maliro.
The group’s band leader Inspector Thomas Binamo, who has been the driving force teaching the inmates music said unlike the first album which he admitted has raw songs, Umboni Ndilinawo is an album they have taken their time.
“This album has songs which took us time to compose. I can challenge people to buy the album and listen to the songs they will see the difference,” said Binamo.
One of the inmates Chikondi Salanje, who composed the title track ‘Umboni Ndilinawo,’ said they are happy to drop the second album.
“Now people know us well but I can assure you that the songs in the second album are good and I am happy to have contributed greatly. We hope to get more platforms for people to see us,” said the vocalist, keyboardist and sound engineer.
Salanje, who was all smiles after a great performance at trade fair where they performed some of the new songs as well as cover songs from Paul Banda entered Zomba Prison in 2011 and, is set to be released in August this year.
Other songs people will sample in the album include Osalemba Ntchito Ana Ang’ono,a song, in which they are rebuking those employing children especially those in estates, Chigumula, Tendai, Dziko Lapansi, Yusufu Nazalayo, Ndatopa Naye Satana, Zandioneni Kundende, and Akunenepa Nako.
Salanje said prison has changed him into a responsible citizen and that once he comes out he wants to continue with music.
“Music will not stop here for me, I want to go on and make my own name and with support I know I will make it. Through prison I have discovered my music talent and this is what can help me spread different messages but also let me express myself,” he said.
During their performance at trade fair, the inmates seemed to be enjoying the show as they performed for hours before bowing out later.
“I have loved their performance; it’s my first time to watch them. I heard about their Grammy nomination but still more I doubted their capabilities. They have potential and they just have to work hard so that they are tighter,” said one of the artists.
The album was recorded at JK Records in Blantyre by Yuzy Uganda.
It remains to be seen as to how far a journey Zomba Prison Band will travel in the music world but they are determined to go far and are even targeting performing in platforms such as Lake of Stars.
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