Mafunyeta’s legacy lives on – Nation Online

Mafunyeta is a name that has significance in Malawi music, especially in the dancehall genre.

The Ndimakondwa hitmaker, who died of asthma 11 years ago, is remembered by other artists and fans for his unique sound and style.

Mafunyeta emerged as a pioneer after the release of his single Kangaroo from 2009.

His influence is still clearly noticeable, with dancehall artists citing him as their main inspiration.

In an interview yesterday, dancehall artiste Malinga Mafia described Mafunyeta as a pioneer of dancehall music in Malawi.

“Mafunyeta laid the foundation for dancehall artistes in the country. He changed the game and many artists of the genre came into the limelight,” Mafia said.

Promising dancehall musician Kellie Divine agrees with Mafia and says she still draws inspiration from him.

“I am inspired by Mafunyeta’s work and I believe that if he were still alive, dancehall music would not be the same,” she added

To commemorate and celebrate the legacy of the fallen artist, a memorial show is planned for August 18 at the National Memorial Tower (area 18) in Lilongwe.

Chief organizer Yanja Chigamba said the artist’s legacy is still felt among new musicians and youth who attend the event.

“So far we are seeing artists using Mafunyeta’s style, which shows that his music is still relevant. The music industry is proof that his legacy lives on, as evidenced by the impressive turnout last year,” he said.

Chigamba also said they see the event as an opportunity to create an ongoing platform for youth to communicate about mental health and other issues.

“We will be inviting mental health experts from St John of God to talk about mental health issues and how people can deal with problems such as depression and suicide,” he added.

The event, themed Let’s talk about it, is free to enter and will feature performances by artists including Malinga Mafia, Kellie Devine, Jay Jay C, Lulu and Wikise.

Mafunyeta, real name Patrick Magalasi, died on August 13, 2013 at the age of 26. He was a member of the musical group Mabilinganya Empire.