Wambali Mkandawire, popularly known as Mtebeti Wambali Mkandawire was a Malawian jazz singer and activist.
The Real Elements is a Malawian hip-hop band that gained notoriety in the 1990s and 2000s in Malawi. The group consisted of Marvel, Plan B, Stix, and Q. The group holds a special place in the Malawian music industry because it propagated Malawian hip-hop and paved the way for the Malawian hip-hop genre at a time when they were a few hip-hop artists in Malawi. Their music was considered the cutting edge in the Malawi music scene. Critics argue that is the best urban group that has come out of Malawi. They performed in Malawi and their music was also featured on Channel O beaming Malawian hip-hop for the first time to a Pan African audience. In their UK tours they opened for UK hip-hop artists like Blak Twang and Terri Walker. It was just as their international career was taking off that the group separated. Stix decided to leave the music industry and follow religious pursuits. The group currently is pursuing personal interests.
Theo Thomson is a Malawian born singer, songwriter. Thomson is owner of the Blantyre-based Matalala Recording Studio. He lived in the UK, where he gained an interest in music with rapid artists productions performing and moved back to Malawi to expand his music career. His father is a former DJ and owner of Fm 101 Power radio Oscar Thomson. He is also the grandson of former Malawian Minister of Trade and Industry, Harry Thomson.
Tapiwa "Tapps" Bandawe is a Malawian record producer. He lived in South Africa for two years before returning to Malawi. He is credited for producing the music of popular Malawian singers, such as Lucky Dube, Brenda Fassie, Jozi, 2Face (Nigeria), Nameless (Kenya), K’Millian (Zambia), Lucius Banda, Mlaka Maliro, Theo Thompson and Phyzix (Malawi) just to name a few. His studio is called Audio Vision Studio.
Jean Alfazema Nachika Kalilani is a Malawian politician who has served in the Cabinet of Malawi as Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security since 2015. Previously she was Minister of Health from 2014 to 2015. She is also the Secretary General of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and second term Member of Parliament for Dowa Central Constituency. As an MP, she served as the Women's Caucus Chair and as the International Relations Chair in the National Assembly. She previously worked for the World Health Organization in Botswana as a country representative.
Francis Kaphuka known professionally as Hyphen formerly known as Young Kay is a popular Malawian hip-hop artist that is known for fusing local Malawian folk songs with international genres. He is known for his vibrant sound and ability to mix Chichewa and English lyrics eloquently in his rhymes. This has earned him recognition as one of Malawi's best lyricists. He has been voted as Malawi’s best rapper twice Joy FM fans and in 2021 was crowned King of Malawian Hiphop by the audience of one of Malawi's biggest online platforms, Mikozi Networks. He was introduced to Malawian audiences under Rush records with the single “I’m Home” and his popularity grew to solidify his place as one of Malawi's greatest hip-hop artists. He has had subsequent hits since then. His song “zipepese” number 2 on FM 101 Power’s urban music chart. In 2010 he collaborated with Malawian born rising act Onesimus Muzik on a track titled "Beautiful" He also collaborated with Lucius Banda, Tigris, and Maskal on track "Malawi Goodlife" in 2011.
Leo Siwale, known professionally by his stage name Tsar Leo, is a Malawian rapper, singer and songwriter. He was nominated as Malawi's Best New Artist of the Year for 2015.
Hip-hop culture in Malawi is relatively young. The genre is a marriage between local and western sounds. Prior to 1994, Malawi was living under a single party regime where censorship of media was heavily employed. Upon gaining freedom in 1994 the country began getting exposed to more western media and hip-hop which was gaining a global audience permeated its way into Malawian society.
ZaniMichelle Chiumia is a Malawian artist, actress, model and former TV presenter. She gained international recognition in music when she collaborated with a Nigerian reggae-dancehall singer and songwriter, Patoranking, on a song called "Single Tonight" released in 2016.
Joy Nathu is a Malawian radio DJ, producer, broadcaster and presenter. He won his first UMP Award in 2016 as the DJ of the year. In 2017 and 2018, Nathu also won the same awards and category. He won Radio DJ and Personality of the Year in 2019.
Chiyanjano Muheziwa popularly known as Annie Matumbi, and sometimes Nyakwawa, is a Malawian veteran musician, tv presenter, actor and politician. In 2017, Matumbi claimed he was the father of Malawi urban music. In 2018, Matumbi stood in a winning a parliamentary seat in 2019's general election under Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Candidate for Lilongwe City South West constituency.
Dan Lufani, best known as Dan Lu, and sometimes written as Dan Lufan, is a Malawian Afro-pop singer and songwriter. In 2011, he was awarded as best Afro pop artist of the year in Malawi Music Awards. In 2016, he was nominated in best R&B/Afro-pop Act along with other artists such as Theo Thomson and Kell Kay.
Aubrey Ghambi, best known as Suffix, is a Malawian gospel rapper and songwriter. In 2020, he won a UMP Award in best gospel act. In 2018, his album titled "Before I Sleep" won the category Album of the Year in UMP Awards and he was nominated as Best Hip Hop Artist as well as Best Urban Gospel. In 2016, was nominated for the same category and award.
Fredo Penjani Kamlepo Kalua, best known as Fredokiss, is a Malawian rapper and songwriter. In 2020, he was nominated in UMP Award in Best Hip Hop Act and his music video "Dadada" won Music Video of the Year. In 2017, he won three categories namely, Artist of the Year, Best rapper and Best Live Act.
Chiku Malinga Chitsundi Banda, best known as Malinga Mafia, is a Malawian dancehall artist and songwriter. In 2018, he won a Nyasa Music Award as Best Dancehall artist of the year. His collaboration with Hyphen titled Tsidya lina won the Best collaboration of the year 2018. In 2017, he won the Best Music Video in Nyasa Music Awards. In 2016, he was awarded a UMP Award for Album of the Year as well as Best Reggae/Dancehall Act in years 2017 and 2018.
Nyasa Music Awards are Malawian award show that was established in early 2017 to celebrate entertainers and other minorities in music, fashion and philanthropy. The annual presentation event that takes place in major cities of the country features performances by artists and they are one of the major Malawi's music industry awards. The event recognizes Malawian music from all genres, including traditional, soul, and gospel. The awards also promote culture, with the 2017 event host of an African Print party that encourages people to showcase their traditional outfits. The awards include media sister awards and its categories are split into male and female.
Kell Kay Kambwiri, best known as Kell Kay, is a Malawian RnB artist and songwriter. In 2017 and 2018, he won a Nyasa Music Award as Best R&B Artist of the year. His collaboration with Gwamba titled Mr yesu was nominated as the Best collaboration of the year 2018.
Angel Mbekeani, best known as Sangie, is a Malawian reggae artist and songwriter. In 2015, she won as the best female artist of the year in UMP Awards. In 2016 and 2019, she was nominated in the same awards in Best Female Artist of the Year. In 2017, she won in the same awards in Best Female Act.
Shukuran Mwachumu better known by his stage name Janta, is a Malawian Afro Pop artist. In 2015, his song titled Wangongole won a Nyasa Music Award in Best Song of the Year category. In 2019, his music video won Best video of the year in UMP Awards.
Noel Chikoleka better known by his stage name Phyzix, is a Malawian musician, rapper, songwriter and activist. He gained national recognition in 2006 when he released the song titled "Cholapitsa" (boogeyman) which sold over 40, 000 copies national wide with a month and has released over albums. In 2020, he won a UMP Award in Best Hip Hop artist of the year.
