Only a few hours remaining to exit 2017. Whenever we enter a new year, most people set goals which they would like to accomplish. However, not all people manage to achieve their set goals as it takes a lot more than just courage, hard work and determination to fulfil one\u2019s dreams.
\nWhen you are a lazy bone, before you know it, it\u2019s already the end of the year\u2014365 days gone in vain with nothing to show.
\nThe Sunday Times talked to some of the local artists to find out if they attained their goals this year and if they have something to point out as their successes.
\nGospel songbird, Princess Chitsulo, said generally 2017 has been a good year but in terms of music it has not been a good one.
\n\u201cIt has been tough because Nyimbo Yanga DVD has met a lot of challenges. It\u2019s the year when it has been pirated a lot,\u201d Chitsulo said.
\nHowever, Chitsulo said the past was gone.
\n\u201cI believe that 2018 will be a great year. I have a couple of activities lined up and my fans should lookout for more new things from me,\u201d Chitsulo said.
\nChitsulo, who made headlines after releasing Nyimbo Yanga album, did not record any album this year.
\n\u201cI have just been shooting videos for my songs in the Nyimbo Yanga DVD,\u201d she said.
\nAnother gospel artist, King James Phiri, said 2017 has been a good year despite several hiccups along the way.
\n\u201cThere were so many shows from several artists but I feel like they were not all successful. Many faced low patronage unlike in 2016 when venues were usually filled,\u201d Phiri said.
\nPhiri argued that the low prices in farm produce also contributed to low album sales.
\n\u201cMost people in urban areas love to burn our music because they are technologically advanced. Some even share music on social media, flash disks or download for free. While in the rural areas most people buy our original CDs or DVDs but because this year farm produce prices kept decreasing as a result, we made low sales,\u201d he said.
\nPhiri however said he was hopeful that 2018 will be a better year.
\n\u201cI hope things will be different because as an artist I have prepared a lot of things for my fans,\u201d he said.
\nPhiri, who recorded two albums this year, said his Yahweh worship album\u2019s reception was excellent.
\n\u201cPeople received it with so much love and appreciation so it wasn\u2019t an entirely bad year after all,\u201d Phiri said.
\nNonetheless, Phiri pointed out that not many artists released music albums this year.
\n\u201cComparing it with 2016, many artists did not release new music albums this year,\u201d Phiri said.
\nWhen asked to rate the year out of 10, Phiri gave 2017 a seven.
\n\u201cIt wasn\u2019t entirely a bad year because there were also some great developments that took place in the music industry,\u201d Phiri said.
\nHip-hop artist, Tay Grin, however gave the year 2017 10 out of 10.
\n\u201cIt has been a great year for me. I had a world tour and I also managed to work closely with the UN Women to promote girl-child education,\u201d Tay Grin said.
\nTay Grin also added that it is the year he has had a lot of international collaborations.
\n\u201cI managed to collaborate with more international artists this year compared to last year,\u201d Tay Grin said.
\nTo cap a remarkable year, Tay Grin\u2014who also became Astro Mobile Brand Ambassador in 2017\u2014has organised a party through Black Rhyno Entertainment that will take place at Latitude 13 in Lilongwe tonight.
\n\u201cIt is important to end the year in celebration as we appreciate all the success and amazing things the year has brought. We have this party to enter 2018 in style,\u201d he said.
\nThe party will feature performances by Tay Grin and Gemini Major. The patrons stand a chance of winning Astro smartphones, hampers, Spa gift vouchers at Latitude13, one month gym membership at Latitude and weekend accommodation for two at Latitude.
\nBlantyre-based hip-hop group Bossaro Music Group (BMG) said 2017 has been a success as they, apart from music, took part in a number of charitable events which changed people\u2019s lives.
\n\u201cOf course we won our first music award but what we cherish more is that we impacted on people\u2019s lives. In 2018, we will work more with the youth and we will disclose a number of projects that we have lined up,\u201d said BMG\u2019s member Patali Mkorongo who is well known as Bossaro Cyclone.
\nTo celebrate some of the achievements, BMG alongside Theo Thomson will perform at Dusk Till Dawn in Blantyre tonight.
\n\u201cWe have the opportunity to get together with the fans and reflect on the successes and failures of BMG\u2019s first year but also looking forward to hearing what our fans expect in 2018. Most importantly we thank our fans for the massive support in 2017,\u201d said the other member of BMG Dalitso Mtambo.
\nHowever, gospel artist Favoured Martha gave 2017 an eight out of 10.
\n\u201cIt\u2019s been a great year in all aspects of my life but I wouldn\u2019t stand tall and say I haven\u2019t met any challenges. That\u2019s why I\u2019m leaving the other two from the 10 for the hiccups,\u201d Favoured Martha said.
\nFavoured Martha said the year favoured her.
\n\u201cAll in all I thank God because I managed to travel to South Africa by plane where I performed. Every time I travelled there it was by bus but this year things were different,\u201d she said.
\nIn terms of shows, Favoured Martha said she has had many shows than she had planned.
\n\u201cI got invited to a lot of places where I performed and people loved my music. They would even sing along. It\u2019s a testimony,\u201d she said.
\nFavoured Martha also released her album \u2018Mawa Lifika\u2019 this year.
\n\u201cThe reception is really good. We haven\u2019t yet started selling the album and I\u2019m hoping once it\u2019s on the market people will buy it,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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