Concert 2016
Cikoye Vwuna Liso Kukkala Mwi Mbunyina
Musicians Compete to Preserve the Rich Cultural Heritage of the Tonga-Speaking People
The crowd loved it. They continuously took pictures and videos, captivated by the outstanding performances from various artists. Live concerts are among the best experiences because you get to see a band you love giving their best performance, driven by a desire to make you happy. This was exactly what most people experienced at the 2016 All Tonga Music Festival.
This year’s music concert featured epic traditional performances that resonated deeply with people’s souls, as multitudes watched with excitement and amusement. It was more competitive than last year’s event, which was primarily a showcase. The festival highlighted the rich traditional culture of the Tonga-speaking people through dance and music.
Due to migration—both local and international—culture has been influenced by many people who join particular groups, leading to cultural diversity. This is why Chikuni Community Radio Station, in close collaboration with the local cultural institute Mukanzubo Kalinda, has taken it upon themselves to ensure this great culture is preserved for younger generations. The Tonga-speaking people believe that every individual must have a cultural background; otherwise, they risk being deemed lost.
This year’s concert was held over two days under the theme: “Cikoye vwuna liso kukkala mwi mbunyina,” which translates to “Unity in Diversity.” In any community, people hold different social, cultural, and political views, but there is a need for coexistence—hence the theme. The music you hear, if listened to closely, shows that it is not just a love of music that motivates people from this culture to sing; it also reflects their way of life. In Tonga land, music is regarded as a vital custodian of culture, revealing what is accepted and what is not.
The festival showcased 20 music categories, though some were not purely traditional. They were borrowed genres fused into Tonga culture. These categories include cilimba, masabe, kuyabila, chikaambe kaambe, seesa, kalindula, kutwa, maguitor, chigome, kalyaba, twist, kalumbu, bukonkoolo, matyantya, ndikiti, lemba, kweema, chiyayaale, and ngoma.
What Does the Concert Mean to the Local People?
Many people flock to the arena on concert days because there are few recreational activities available locally. The concert serves as a vital recreational outlet, especially for the people living in Chikuni.
It provides an opportunity to share past experiences with the younger generation. As the saying goes, “Good music speaks to people and changes their way of thinking.”
Music is a great unifier. It has an incredible power that transcends race or background; whether black or white, yellow or pink, people find common ground through it. “I love coming to the music festival because it gives me time to reflect on many things and appreciate how beautiful life is when we live as one,” said one spectator. Another added, “Music produces a kind of pleasure that human nature cannot do without.”
How Has the Concert Helped the Musicians?
Lasesa Milimo Masanga leads the Lasesa Cultural Group, formed in 1994. He began his singing career in primary school, learning from others. With the experience gained, he boldly participated in the first music concert organized by Chikuni Community Radio Station in 2000. Between 2000 and 2003, he performed the Sesa dance, and since 2003, he has performed the Chikambe-Kambe dance.
“I focus on this dance because few people perform it. We must preserve our culture in all facets. This dance is usually performed at initiation ceremonies, and it should not be forgotten because it is the only time young girls are taught about womanhood.”
Since the festival’s inception, Lasesa Milimo has either won first or second prize, which has helped him develop both professionally and personally. “People now invite me to perform at various functions. We used to sing in the village just for pleasure, but the music festival has taught us we can do more than that. We had no source of income before, but that is now in the past because we can make our own money and provide for our families,” he said.
Besides performing with the Lasesa Cultural Group, he is the founder of Ngoma Ya Mwami Ufwenuka. He is also a composer, dramatist, and lead singer. “Playing the drum is a God-given gift. When I feel low, I find solace in playing the drum,” he added.
Anna Mutinta Choolwe, known by her stage name Bina Lilly, first participated in the concert in 2000 in the Kutwa (pounding) category. Kutwa was a practice heavily performed by women in the olden days, as it was essential for food preparation. Women would pound maize, groundnuts, sorghum, and other staples to provide sustenance. “Nowadays, people use modern equipment for this work. My reason for participating in the concert is to ensure the younger generation, especially young girls, learn traditional methods because some modern equipment may not be reliable.”
“Life in the village is not as easy as some might think. If you don’t have formal work, farming is all you do. Kutwa is a way of life for us. I have been pounding at the concert because I discovered it’s not just a showcase but also one of my many talents. Since I started participating, my life has changed. I have built a house and expanded into other businesses such as farming and goat rearing.”
“Since the concert started, I have been challenged to sing songs that reach all age groups. I have both condemned and encouraged certain behaviors,” said Savity Tumbachanji, the first prize winner in the maguitor category. Savity is well known for his “Taonga” song, which encourages parents and guardians to send their children to Interactive Radio Instruction (IRI) Schools. When these schools were introduced, many people were skeptical about children learning through the radio. However, thanks in part to Savity’s song, many now support these schools. Before their introduction, learners often dropped out because of the long distances to school. Now, many in Monze district have called for more of these schools to be built.
After years of participating in the concert, Savity expanded his musical knowledge by enrolling at Evelyn Hone College to pursue a diploma in music teaching. His musical background allowed him to perform alongside renowned artists like the Sakala Brothers and Angela Nyirenda. He also played in three college bands. “Exams were easy for me because I already knew much of the material. The workshops we attend before any concert organized by Radio Chikuni equip us with the skills needed for the music industry.”
“I am now well-known at inter-regional festivals, and in 2006, I won the Outstanding Traditional Singer Award at the prestigious Ngoma Awards, which recognize artists in creative writing, visual arts, theatre, and media arts.”
The concert costs more than K100,000 to host annually, and Radio Chikuni invites the corporate world to partner in preserving local culture through song and dance. Thousands of kwacha are needed to build structures at the concert arena to improve the experience for revelers. Our artists need training to hone their skills and advance their careers so that their success does not start and end with this concert. In the age of piracy, releasing an album no longer puts money in the pockets of local bands, but live performances can
The crowd loved it. They continuously took pictures and videos, captivated by the outstanding performances from various artists. Live concerts are among the best experiences because you get to see a band you love giving their best performance, driven by a desire to make you happy. This was exactly what most people experienced at the 2016 All Tonga Music Festival.
This year’s music concert featured epic traditional performances that resonated deeply with people’s souls, as multitudes watched with excitement and amusement. It was more competitive than last year’s event, which was primarily a showcase. The festival highlighted the rich traditional culture of the Tonga-speaking people through dance and music.
Due to migration—both local and international—culture has been influenced by many people who join particular groups, leading to cultural diversity. This is why Chikuni Community Radio Station, in close collaboration with the local cultural institute Mukanzubo Kalinda, has taken it upon themselves to ensure this great culture is preserved for younger generations. The Tonga-speaking people believe that every individual must have a cultural background; otherwise, they risk being deemed lost.
This year’s concert was held over two days under the theme: “Cikoye vwuna liso kukkala mwi mbunyina,” which translates to “Unity in Diversity.” In any community, people hold different social, cultural, and political views, but there is a need for coexistence—hence the theme. The music you hear, if listened to closely, shows that it is not just a love of music that motivates people from this culture to sing; it also reflects their way of life. In Tonga land, music is regarded as a vital custodian of culture, revealing what is accepted and what is not.
The festival showcased 20 music categories, though some were not purely traditional. They were borrowed genres fused into Tonga culture. These categories include cilimba, masabe, kuyabila, chikaambe kaambe, seesa, kalindula, kutwa, maguitor, chigome, kalyaba, twist, kalumbu, bukonkoolo, matyantya, ndikiti, lemba, kweema, chiyayaale, and ngoma.
What Does the Concert Mean to the Local People?
Many people flock to the arena on concert days because there are few recreational activities available locally. The concert serves as a vital recreational outlet, especially for the people living in Chikuni.
It provides an opportunity to share past experiences with the younger generation. As the saying goes, “Good music speaks to people and changes their way of thinking.”
Music is a great unifier. It has an incredible power that transcends race or background; whether black or white, yellow or pink, people find common ground through it. “I love coming to the music festival because it gives me time to reflect on many things and appreciate how beautiful life is when we live as one,” said one spectator. Another added, “Music produces a kind of pleasure that human nature cannot do without.”
How Has the Concert Helped the Musicians?
Lasesa Milimo Masanga leads the Lasesa Cultural Group, formed in 1994. He began his singing career in primary school, learning from others. With the experience gained, he boldly participated in the first music concert organized by Chikuni Community Radio Station in 2000. Between 2000 and 2003, he performed the Sesa dance, and since 2003, he has performed the Chikambe-Kambe dance.
“I focus on this dance because few people perform it. We must preserve our culture in all facets. This dance is usually performed at initiation ceremonies, and it should not be forgotten because it is the only time young girls are taught about womanhood.”
Since the festival’s inception, Lasesa Milimo has either won first or second prize, which has helped him develop both professionally and personally. “People now invite me to perform at various functions. We used to sing in the village just for pleasure, but the music festival has taught us we can do more than that. We had no source of income before, but that is now in the past because we can make our own money and provide for our families,” he said.
Besides performing with the Lasesa Cultural Group, he is the founder of Ngoma Ya Mwami Ufwenuka. He is also a composer, dramatist, and lead singer. “Playing the drum is a God-given gift. When I feel low, I find solace in playing the drum,” he added.
Anna Mutinta Choolwe, known by her stage name Bina Lilly, first participated in the concert in 2000 in the Kutwa (pounding) category. Kutwa was a practice heavily performed by women in the olden days, as it was essential for food preparation. Women would pound maize, groundnuts, sorghum, and other staples to provide sustenance. “Nowadays, people use modern equipment for this work. My reason for participating in the concert is to ensure the younger generation, especially young girls, learn traditional methods because some modern equipment may not be reliable.”
“Life in the village is not as easy as some might think. If you don’t have formal work, farming is all you do. Kutwa is a way of life for us. I have been pounding at the concert because I discovered it’s not just a showcase but also one of my many talents. Since I started participating, my life has changed. I have built a house and expanded into other businesses such as farming and goat rearing.”
“Since the concert started, I have been challenged to sing songs that reach all age groups. I have both condemned and encouraged certain behaviors,” said Savity Tumbachanji, the first prize winner in the maguitor category. Savity is well known for his “Taonga” song, which encourages parents and guardians to send their children to Interactive Radio Instruction (IRI) Schools. When these schools were introduced, many people were skeptical about children learning through the radio. However, thanks in part to Savity’s song, many now support these schools. Before their introduction, learners often dropped out because of the long distances to school. Now, many in Monze district have called for more of these schools to be built.
After years of participating in the concert, Savity expanded his musical knowledge by enrolling at Evelyn Hone College to pursue a diploma in music teaching. His musical background allowed him to perform alongside renowned artists like the Sakala Brothers and Angela Nyirenda. He also played in three college bands. “Exams were easy for me because I already knew much of the material. The workshops we attend before any concert organized by Radio Chikuni equip us with the skills needed for the music industry.”
“I am now well-known at inter-regional festivals, and in 2006, I won the Outstanding Traditional Singer Award at the prestigious Ngoma Awards, which recognize artists in creative writing, visual arts, theatre, and media arts.”
The concert costs more than K100,000 to host annually, and Radio Chikuni invites the corporate world to partner in preserving local culture through song and dance. Thousands of kwacha are needed to build structures at the concert arena to improve the experience for revelers. Our artists need training to hone their skills and advance their careers so that their success does not start and end with this concert. In the age of piracy, releasing an album no longer puts money in the pockets of local bands, but live performances can
