The ‘production’ of humour has traditionally been considered the artist’s main role, in much the same way as the throat has naturally been considered a swallowing ‘gadget’.
Of course, there are problems with this understanding. This is so because what this notion does is to ignore thousands of years when the art has served as a tool for social criticism.
But, again, this is not to say the arts industries are not synonymous with humour and the amusement that comes through, say, music, stand-up comedy, among other artistic forms.
Artists baffle us with their characteristic high spirits, which is, in more ways than one, the most visible indicator of an artist’s ingenuity.
Nobody, for example, challenges a stand-up comedian because joking at the joker’s expense is the easiest way to becoming the laughing stock in a crowd. Surely, one who begins a game against a joker is getting into a battle they expect to lose at their own expense.
Talking of jokes, not many people would link Njati Njedede to jokes. If anything, people link him to music. In fact, people link him to one of the players in the music industry, Fuggie Kasipa, who hired him to fill a role in that once-a-time-ago famous love song.
In that song, Kasipa plays a Kennedy Ndoya! Why are you searching your pockets in your attempt to find out who Kennedy Ndoya is? Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! [The 12 Has! Represent the 12 tribes of Israel, remember!]
Kennedy Ndoya is that great man Madolo. Madolo from Ntcheu District. Madolo the great! Madolo the late. May his soul rest in peace. Kennedy Ndoya had a voice Joe Gwaladi and Njati Njedede imitate when they incorporate the La! La! La! La! La! sound in their pieces of music, or when filling a role they have been assigned in a composition.
In Gwaladi’s song, Njedede did the La! La! La! La! La! thing and, on the strength of La! La! La! La! La!, sailed directly into the arms of fame. That is over 13 years ago.
Today, however, Njati Njedede has struggled to find another boat to take him across the waters of near-obscurity to the harbour of public fame. It is like he has been swimming under water: Alive and kicking, but invisible all the same.
I met him in Blantyre the other day. He was busy attending to his own issues at the Bus Stands.
Some vendors, between four and six [as far as I can remember] said to him [he did not stop actually; they spoke as he walked]: Kodi nyimbo ina ituluka liti? [When are you coming up with the next song?].
Njedede did not respond.
One of the vendors asked again: Kodi iwe, nyimbo ina utulutsa liti [Hey there, when are you releasing the next song]?
Njati Njedede did not respond. Need I say for the second time?
Yet again, one vendor asked: Kodi iwe, sumamva? Nyimbo ina ituluka liti? [Hey, can’t you hear us. When is the next song coming out?
Again, Njedede did not answer.
Iwe! Iwe! Iwe! [Hey! Hey! Hey!
Upon which Njedede looked back and, with a serious voice— unlike the Njedede we know; Njedede the artist who specialises in ‘creating’ enjoyment— he said: Ine si woyimba [I am not a musician]!
How I laughed!
I met Njedede again at Times Group head offices in Blantyre some seven weeks ago. I said: Hey Njedede, people have been bothering you about new songs, what is your response?
“I am not an artist. I just found myself in the limelight by chance…!”
Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha!
By chance, Ankolo [Francis Tayanjah Phiri] was there and he said: “Musiyeni mwana [leave the kid alone!”
Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Is Njedede a kid? The guy is running away from the fire he started!
You see [that’s what I thought at the time] some people have worked all their lives to become musicians. To no avail.
But here is someone who has been in the limelight and, instead of satisfying demand, is busy distancing himself from music.
I understand Njedede, though. He has been so much under pressure to give those who love him something – but Njedede has not stumbled upon another golden chance.
So, in the words “I am not an artist”, Njedede finds relief! Strange kind of relief, I think. Leave Njedede is peace!
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