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Tiwonge Hango, born on 21st October, 1987,
is a recording and performing artist from Malawi. He became hooked on
music when he was only six years old. On the way home from school he
used to make music from tin cans he collected from rubbish dumps. Progress
came when a family friend, Gill Hunter (now his Executive Producer)
gave him a keyboard. That was the turning
point for the little genius. He then formed a group with his mother
and his older brother Khumbo called Tikhu Gospel Singers which later
evolved into Tikhu Vibrations.
He made his debut on the professional music scene
in 2002 when Tikhu Vibrations won Crossroads International Competition
in Southern Africa. The prize was a tour of Sweden. They later toured
England and Scotland. In 2005, he recorded ‘Ndife Amodzi’ in Malawi
before taking up a highly valued place at the Liverpool Institute for
Performing Arts. This album was only released in England and helped
raise funds for The Hunter Trust for Education in Malawi. Tiwonge’s
music knowledge was broadened and developed in Liverpool as he studied
for a Diploma in Popular Music and Sound Technology. He passed with
Merit and recalls that his most memorable moment came when he shook
hands with Sir Paul McCartney of the famous Beatles at his graduation
ceremony.
On his return from the UK Tiwonge developed and
recorded his first solo album produced by Wambali Mkhandawere, the 2003
SAMA winner. It was mixed and mastered by Gavin Eckhart in South Africa.
Since the release of Chinyengo, Tiwonge has been propelled into the
ranks of Malawi’s big named musicians. He is one of the most promising
artists from Malawi with the potential to break into the African music
scene.
Chinyengo has a strong African feel. Backed by
a group of young African musicians, Bafipa Band, includes drummer Nulo
Mwale, Marson Nkhata bass player, percussionist Robert Moyo, Khumbo
Hango keyboard player and guitarist, Kennedy Phiri. Bafipa band is an
outfit of haunting sounds and rolling drums from Africa.The popularity
of his music videos premiered on Malawi Television (TVM) such as Mama
Africa and Mutuvwa waka, helped bring the artist to fame as the videos
were so artistic and full of creativity.
Tikhu Vibrations was one of the first groups to
perform at the Lake of Stars Music Festival, Malawi’s biggest festival
attracting visitors from all over the world. Subsequently Tiwonge and
Bafipa were invited there and Tiwonge was chosen to do a documentary
of Malawian music which was broadcast on The South African Broadcasting
Corporation, and also heard on BBC Radio 1.
Watching Hango performing, one would hardly believe that the young afro-jazz
artist hasn’t signed a recording deal with any record company. Tiwonge
Hango is extremely energetic with razor-sharp voice on the stage. Currently
he is based in Mzuzu, Malawi close to his home village Chamawoya in
Nkhata Bay. |
