It is said that when the going gets tough don’t quit but to rise up and fight on.
The best boxers in life are the ones who are resilient and never throw in the towel until they defeat their opponent whether in round twelve it does not matter.
Musicians like the late Lucius Banda and Skeffa Chimoto also weighed in with encouraging messages not only to the youth but all ages.
Skeffa’s Kankha Wachinyamata is must listen while Banda’s Paulendo is another hit full of encouraging vibes and advise.
If we talk about the late Bob Marley, then he just hit the nail on the head with his song Get up Stand up-don’t give up the fight. Why should one give up when he has to hands, two legs and a functioning head? Stand up and move.
As if following the advice from these great musicians, 25 year old Ethel Namphungo from Ulumba in Zomba but currently residing in Lilongwe decided to go back to music after failing to make it as a journalist.
“Both my parents are disabled. My mother’s feet instead of pointing forward, point backwards and she has difficulties in walking. Worse still my father depends on a wheel chair for mobility. As if this was not enough for us as children the parents divorced,” says Ethel, a second born in a family of four (three girls and a boy).
Ethel did her primary school at Zomba CCAP where she was selected to Likangala Secondary School in 2014.
While in secondary school her dream was to become a journalist but she was not picked to study in one of the government sub vented colleges and she enrolled with the Malawi institute of Journalism (MIJ) in 2019.
But mother luck never smiled on her and she was forced to withdraw due to lack of fees.
“I badly wanted to become a journalist because I was always thrilled to see girls and women covering stories or even presenting news on both radio and television. But since I could not afford the fees I had no option than to call it quits,” she narrates.
She moved to Lilongwe to stay with some relations and fortunately she got a job as a Child Care Giver at the Social Rehabilitation Centre but behind her mind she still wanted to pursue a unique career and music was her second choice.
“After dropping out at MIJ I still wanted to do something unique and music was the next option. Though I am working I thought it wise to enroll with Music Crossroads Malawi as a bassist because I did not want to just be vocalist as most females and I am happy I am the best in my college or Academy as a bass player. It is a dream come true,” she enthuses.
When management at Music Crossroads saw her passion in the bass guitar they gave her a scholarship under the Focus Rite project and she does not worry about fees anymore.
However what gives her a splitting hedache is the lack of her own equipment since she sometimes miss classes due to work commitments.
“I need a well wisher to buy me a bass guitar because what I did at Ethno Music Festival organized by Music Crossroads recently gave me the impetus to show that I can still do much better and be one of the best female bassist not only in Africa but the whole world,” she dreams.
Music Cross Roads Malawi Director Ghayi-Ghayi Mfune share the sentiments of Namphungo saying she is one of the most passionate female bassists who has shown resilience against all odds, hence being the best at the Academy.
“She is one of the best and if she continues on this path she will scale dizzy heights. What she showed us at the Ethno Malawi Music festival was unparalled. I just want to encourage other girls who feel they are being called to music to follow their heart and Music CrossRoads is there to support them,” said Mfune.
At a time when most of the youth are complaining of lack of jobs maybe they can follow Ethel Namphungo’s example to become musicians-who knows it could be their life changer. Follow your heart as Mfune advises.
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