Allan Namoko (1956 — 1995) was a virtuoso visually-impaired banjo player who took Malawi by storm, becoming a household name in the early 1980’s. He was backed by the Chimvu River jazz band, who played using home-made instruments and recorded their songs in just one take on Reel to Reel tape recorders.
Considered by many to be Malawi’s top guitar and banjo player due to his unique playing style, he played seated on a tea chest and beating the chest with his foot to provide rhythmic accompaniment, Namoko’s songs have stood the test of time.
This song analyses the tendency of some wealthy people to not take care of their siblings and relatives. The relatives are looked down upon and at times do not even have a shelter.
My thanks to Waliko Makhala of the Malawi Broadcasting Corporation for the transcript and translation that follows.
My Uncle, my Uncle
Uncle, my family
My Uncle, my Uncle
Uncle please take care of me
Take care of me, my family
I sleep outside the house
I sleep outside my family
I sleep outside with chickens
I sleep in a kraal
Me, your friend, I am a poor man
I am a poor man
Although you ill treat me
Although you ill treat me
Please remember me.
Here I am outside, like a winnowing basket.
Here I am outside, like a winnowing basket.
A transcript of the lyrics in the original Chichewa.
Malume yee Malume yee
Amalume inu abale
Malume yeea malume
Malume mundiyang’anile ine
Mundiyanginile ine abale
Kwathu ndimagona panja
Kwathu ndimagona panja ine abale
Nyumba mongona nkhuku inu
Nyumba mongona nkhuku
Mzanu ine Ndine waumphawi
Ndine waumphawi
Ngakhale mundisambule ine abale
Ngakhale mundisambule ine abale
Mundikumbikile.
Kuno ndi kunja kuyanja lichero
Kuno ndi kunja kuyanja licheee…
by Allan Namoko and the Chimvu River Jazz Band,
from the Malawi Broadcasting Corporations archives,
translated and transcribed by Waliko Makhala.
