Radiodiffusion Internasionaal Annexe

♬ Echipini

After Nyasaland gained it’s independence from Britain in 1964, the country became know as the Republic of Malawi. The small landlocked East African nation is bordered by Zambia to the northwest, Tanzania to the northeast, and Mozambique on the east, south and west.

During British rule, very few local artists would gain prominence due to the oppressive colonial regime. After the country’s independence, the most prevalent music on the radio was Western Pop, Congolese Soukous and East African music. But due to the 1968 Censorship Act, Malawian musicians had to write lyrics acceptable to censors to ensure that their songs would be played on radio.

It should be no surprise that the most popular band in the country became the M. B. C. Band, the house band for the Malawi Broadcasting Corporation – which had a monopoly on the airwaves up until 1994. Formed by Kapote Mwakasungura, Mjura Mkandawire and Wyndham Chechamba in 1973, the band pioneered the modern popular Malawi Sound – mixing indigenous music with foreign influences. Although the band went through numerous line-up changes, they disbanded in 2001.

Other than this single, I have also seen a full length album entitled “Kokoliko Ku Malaŵi” on the same label – Ng’oma. As far as I know, The M. B. C. Band and the Chichiri Queens were the only artists on that label that may or may not have been based in England.

If you have any further information on the M. B. C. Band and/or the Chichiri Queens, please contact me or leave a comment.

Catalog number MBC 001 on Ng’oma Records. Released 1973.

I like the song… and the label art!

Comment by litlgrey April 29, 2012 @ 11:54 am

Thanks very much for this and so many others! Great background info…much appreciated.

Comment by dave April 30, 2012 @ 12:47 pm

Hello,
I can’t tell you much more than you know, but I have the second release on ng’oma (MBC 002) and the 45 features two tracks: Angwazi Kawiri Kawiri b/w Inu Achimwene. Are they on the full length, do you know?

Comment by Istvan September 20, 2012 @ 4:06 pm

I’ve only seen a picture of their LP – and only the front cover. I don’t know what songs are on there.

Comment by Radiodiffusion September 21, 2012 @ 6:47 am

My late brother was lead guitarist for MBC band his influence in the MBC band was electric ask Oliver Mutukudzi who was his friend.. He has relatives and adult children who can recount his journey in Malawi music…my contact is colletahc@gmail.com

Comment by Colletah chitsike May 2, 2015 @ 7:36 am

I am a Malawian who has lived outside the country for 25 years. I am aware though that some people who played on that record like Maria Chidzanja Nkhoma and Winston Chechamba are still alive. It should be a simple matter for someone in the media or so to ask them where these records were made or recorded. I am frustrated by the fact that information on a lot of Malawian musicians and music is either not available or incorrect while reliable sources of information exist.

Comment by A. Khomani September 17, 2015 @ 4:36 pm