Mbanaye

Mbanaye is Malawi's most interesting up-and-coming band, fusing their traditional heritage together with modern funk and jazz to create a unique sound. Consisting of members from all over Malawi, the band sings in the two languages Chitumbuka and Chichewa. The band was formed in the Kawale area in Lilongwe in 2016, but were quickly noticed for their energetic performances and intricate rhythms. The same year they were booked for both Tumaini Festival and the renowned Lake Of Stars Festival, and in 2017 they performed at Nkhotakota Festival, Rhythms of the Rain Forest and then Tumaini Festival again.

In January 2017 they were signed to Ujeni Records, who produced their debut EP entitled "Odi" together with a live session video of the band performing their EP live on stage. They gained good response on their release, as it aired on national TV in Malawi and radio stations internationally. This led to the band being booked for one of Africa's biggest festivals: Sauti za Busara in 2018. This was a big milestone for the band and their first international booking. Their performance at Sauti za Busara was recorded and released as a CD/DVD, containing the mini-documentary "The Road to Sauti". The band is now currently working on their first full-length album.