92-year-old Malawian Music Legend Finds Fame On TikTok
Sumaira FH Published January 19, 2022 | 12:13 PM
At 92, Giddes Chalamanda has no idea what TikTok is. He doesn't even own a smartphone
Chiradzulu, Malawi, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 19th Jan, 2022 ) :At 92, Giddes Chalamanda has no idea what TikTok is. He doesn't even own a smartphone.
And yet the Malawian music legend has become a social media star, with his song "Linny Hoo" garnering over 80 million views on the video-sharing platform and spawning mashups and remixes from South Africa to the Philippines.
"They come and show me the videos on their phones, but I have no idea how it works," Chalamanda told AFP at his home on the edge of a macadamia plantation, about 20 kilometres (12 miles) from Malawi's main city Blantyre.
"But I love the fact that people are enjoying themselves and that my talent is getting the right attention," he said, speaking in Chewa.
Despite his grey hair and slight stoop, the nonagenarian singer and guitarist, who has been a constant presence on the Malawian music scene for seven decades, displays a youthful exuberance as he sits chatting with a group of young fans.
He first recorded "Linny", an ode to one of his daughters, in 2000.
But global acclaim only came two decades later when Patience Namadingo, a young gospel artist, teamed up with Chalamanda to record a reggae remix of "Linny" titled "Linny Hoo".
The black-and-white video of the recording shows a smiling, gap-toothed Chalamanda, nattily dressed in a white shirt and V-neck sweater, jamming with Namadingo under a tree outside his home, with a group of neighbours looking on.
The video went viral after it was posted on YouTube, where it racked up more than 6.9 million views. Then late last year, it landed on TikTok and toured the globe.
Chalamanda only learned of the song's sensational social media popularity from his children and their friends.
Since then he and Namadingo have recorded remixes of several others of his best-known tracks.
His daughter Linny's 16-year-old son Stepson Austin told AFP that he was proud of his grandfather's longevity.
"It is good that he has lived long enough to see this day," said the youngster, who himself aspires to become a hip-hop artist.
Born in Chiradzulu, a small town in southern Malawi, Chalamanda won fame in his homeland with lilting songs such as "Buffalo Soldier" in which he dreams of visiting America and "Napolo".
Over the past decade, he has collaborated with several younger musicians and still performs across the country.
Related Topics
Recent Stories
SC orders end of encroachments in Karachi
Nazish Jahangir denies viral screenshots, calls them fake
Govt likely to hike electricity price once again
Bismah Maroof announces immediate retirement from international cricket
Malala expresses unwavering support for Gaza people
Selection committee dissolved over Pakistan women cricket team's poor performanc ..
Punjab CM Maryam Nawaz in police uniform at Chung police center
Currency Rate In Pakistan - Dollar, Euro, Pound, Riyal Rates On 25 April 2024
Today Gold Rate in Pakistan 25 April 2024
Mired in crisis, Boeing reports another loss
Session Awarding Ceremony 2024 held at Cadet College Muzaffarabad
Austrian ski great Hirscher to make comeback under Dutch flag
More Stories From World
-
Myanmar's health ministry issues heat advisory amid soaring temperature
3 minutes ago -
Russian oil production facility in Siberia catches fire
3 minutes ago -
Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index closes 0.48 pct higher
3 minutes ago -
Kremlin says Ukraine access to ATACMS will not impact outcome of conflict
13 minutes ago -
Scottish leader scraps coalition deal with Greens
13 minutes ago -
US announces sweeping cuts to power sector carbon emissions
1 hour ago
-
US to give Micron $6.1 bn for American chip factories
1 hour ago -
Venice launches five-euro entry fee
1 hour ago -
New Godzilla x Kong film continues to lead Chinese box office
1 hour ago -
2024 Zhongguancun Forum opens in Beijing to focus on cutting-edge technologies
1 hour ago -
Philippines grapples with measles, pertussis outbreaks: UNICEF
2 hours ago -
450,000 stimulant tablets seized in Myanmar's Yangon
2 hours ago