The music of Malawi has historically been influenced by its triple cultural heritage of British, African, and American music. Malawians, known for their history as travelers and migrant workers, have contributed to the spread of their music across the African continent, blending it with various musical forms. A significant factor in this musical amalgamation was World War II, during which soldiers transported music to distant lands and brought it back, leading to the popularity of guitar and banjo duos as dance bands by the war's end. Both instruments were imported. Additionally, Malawians working in mines in South Africa and Mozambique influenced the fusion of music styles, giving rise to genres such as Kwela.
Lucius Chicco Banda, better known by his stage name Soldier Lucius Banda, is a Malawian singer-songwriter, music producer and politician from Balaka, Malawi.
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.
Nyasa Times is an online newspaper providing Malawian news, founded by Edgar Chibaka in 2006. It began reporting in late 2006. According to its own website, it received "over 8 million hits per month" in 2010.
Angela Mizinga is a Malawian singer/rapper from Ntcheu, Malawi.
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.
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.
Rita Kalonga, known professionally by her stage name Ritaa, is a Malawian musician, singer, songwriter and Entrepreneur
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.
Joseph Tembo was a musician and politician from Malawi. He had collaborated with Sally Nyundo, Lucius Banda, Mlaka Maliro and many other Malawian artists. He produced and promoted many upcoming artists including Andrew Matrauza, whose first successful single was Musadabwe. Tembo's style of music resembles Zimbabwean mbira music as he is a Sena, a southern Malawian tribe that has a common ancestry. For more than once he had performed and played alongside the late Oliver Mtukudzi.
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.
Juma James Chitsonga, better known by his stage name Jay Jay Cee, is a Malawian afro pop artist. He grew up listening to songs by Annie Matumbi, Danny from Zambia and Movado. He started implementing music at the age of 12 in 2009. He has worked with various artists such as Nesnes, Blaze, Sir Patricks and Hilco.
Sir Paul Banda is a Malawian musician, songwriter, producer and videographer. In 2023, Banda received a lifetime award. He is a member of the Malawian pop group called the Alleluya Band, which he founded in the 1970s. He is regarded as the founder of modern Malawi music. During his time in early 2000s and 1990s, he taught different artists to sing. These artists include Malume Bokosi, Lucius Banda, Paul Chaphuka and many more. He is the older brother of Lucius Banda.
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.
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.
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.
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.
