While releases all Yao album

BY WATIPASO MZUNGU JNR

That Malawians do not take pleasure in listening to local music is a proven fact.



    Thinking hard?: Dalitso While. Pic: Watipaso Mzungu Jnr



And while other artists are trying very hard to respond to the listeners’ choice by copying foreign music, genres and beats, an upcoming Mangochi-based artist, Dalitso While has decided to defy the market demand by releasing his all Yao album—Ngusanakonda, which means “I love you!”.

In an interview with The Sunday Times on Monday, While said he decided to do all—Yao pieces a way of preserving “our traditional and cultural values”.

“It’s unfortunate that most artists are abandoning their own culture and traditions in their music because of money,” said the musician who is also known as Dea Man among his admirers.

But While faults listeners whom he accuses of forcing local artists to dump their customs, cultural and traditional values in their quest to make ends meet.

“Local artists would not have been copying alien music if listeners where responding favourably to our music. Unfortunately, most people think whoever listens to local stuff is backward,” said the musician who is also an Art Teacher at Heeed Malawi at Cape Maclear in Mangochi.



 Dalitso While in Mangochi: Will his music sell?



This has been a general concern among many artists and has been labelled as the main contributor towards local artists’ failure to survive in the industry.

Unlike many musicians who choose to sell their albums via prominent music dealers such as OG Issa and others, Mr. Dea Man is selling Ngusanakonda CDs and DVDs on his own.

“So far, I’ve managed to released CDs and DVDs only. I’m monitoring the market to see whether there’ll be any need for tapes,” he said.

The album has 14 tracks.

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