Music and dance is an integral part of the Malawian culture. Probably the two most popular forms of music are Christian spiritual songs in gospel or choir form and a soft reggae led by the Rastafarians of Malawi.
Christian music is a constant in most villages. Spiritual songs are sung not just at church, but as entertainment at political functions, at school assemblies, and as accompaniment to everyday tasks. Rich harmonies and complex rhythms are an outstanding feature of this music; most is sung a cappella, or with only a drum accompaniment. Both women and men alike participate in organized choirs, and even impromptu songs are multi-layered and polished. Most Christian songs are sung in the area’s local language, and are either adaptations of English songs or consist of Christian wording that has been put to a local tune.
Probably the most famous reggae musician of Malawi is Lusious Banda (known by his fans as “The Soldier”), but cassette recordings of many local artists are widely distributed. Concerts, sponsored by Carlsburg beer or held at nightclubs, are common events in the cities. But popular music in Malawi does not exist in a vacuum—a Malawian equivalent of the American Top 40 might include African reggae, Bob Marley, American hip-hop, kwasa-kwasa (a music form from Zambia), and South African pop.
Here are some samples of Malawian Music:
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