Earning a decent living

by Watipaso Mzungu Jnr

Talandiridwa performing at Limbe Market

They want to earn a decent living and this is the more reason Louis Phinifolo and Grantford Nguluwe, in-laws, went into music.

Phinifolo comes from while Nguluwe is a descendant of Chief Mzukuzuku Jere in Mzimba. But the institution of marriage brought the two together to form a band after failing to secure a job.

“Sitikufuna chuma chomachidya uli cheuchue (We don’t want to indulge in clandestine means of earning a living!),” said Phinifolo whose sister Grantford married.

And this marked the birth of Talandiridwa Band in 2004. With their locally-made equipment, the two travel from place to place displaying ingenuity in plucking guitars and drums made from gallons and pots, respectively.

“On a good day, we make not less K2,000. And this is not a mean achievement; we’re able to feed our families with these proceeds,” chipped in Nguluwe.

The band boasts that it has composed more than 20 songs, which would have been selling on the market had it been that they sourced sponsorship to record them.

“We’d like to appeal to well-wishers to assist us. We’ll not disappoint them; our songs are pure and traditional,” said Phinifolo.

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