Kaysha's Exclusive Interview with Mmalawi Blog

Kaysha, Born Edward Mokolo is originally from Congo Kinshasa and with his parents, he immigrated to France when he was 7. He currently lives between Liboa Portugal, Brussels in Belgium and Paris in France. We had the priviledge to attend his concert last weekend at the Olympia of Montreal in Canada.
Kaysha is sometimes called the "African Timbaland" because of his ability to produce many artists from around the world as well as being a succesful artist in his own right. Kaysha is the CEO of SUSHIRAW Entertainment, a company that produces music and also a clothing line. Kaysha has collaborated with WuTang Clan's Killah Priest and many other artists like Biso na Biso's Passi. Kaysha sings Zouk/Pop/Hip Hop/Rnb/Kizomba and many other music styles.
Kaysha who fluently speaks French,English,Portuguese and Spanish was nominated for an MTV AWARD, he has won 2 prestigious KORA AWARDS among many other awards.
In this Exclusive Interview with Mmalawi Blog's Postera Tenthani, Kaysha talks about his present and future plans and also gives advice to young Malawian and African artists.

Mmalawi Blog: Kaysha it is a pleasure to have this interview with you today. Tell us, why did you choose music and not a different avenue and how did you get into it?
Kaysha: It was simply meant to be. I never made the choice, it was this since the begginning and I just had to go through the right sacrifices, the right encounters and the touch the dream & the sky...
Mmalawi Blog: How do you describe your music?
Kaysha: Freedom. My culture is so diverse, I couldn't just represent my influence by just picking one style. My music is computer generated but the influences come from electro, house, rock, reggae, zouk, hip hop, RnB, 80's pop... Everything I grew up listenin' to as a young afro-european
Mmalawi Blog: What has been your most memorable experience as a musician to date?
Way too many to just nail it to one moment... This whole life is the beautiful moment... Being able to capture the hearts of so many people and see them sing along when you perform from Portugal to Mozambique, London to Paris is just a life of memorable experiences... I'm totally blessed
Mmalawi Blog: This was well demonstrated this last saturday at your concert at the Montreal Olympia. What would you say is your biggest inspiration?
Kaysha: Life
Mmalawi Blog: Now lets talk about your soft side, what or who is the greatest love of your life?
Kaysha: My mom, my son, babymom & an ex or two...My experience is that the greatest love can be a person in a part of your life and another in the next
Mmalawi Blog: That is very interesting! Now what is your idea of perfect happiness?
Kaysha: Perfect hapiness would be wifey, kids & friends in a big warm home not too far from the sea, my studio in the basement & enuff money to see thru 3 or 4 generations... I touched that dream before
Mmalawi Blog: What do you feel is your greatest achievement?
Kaysha: The pride of my parents and my maturity as a father
Mmalawi Blog: We all know that the things happening in Africa are very sad. If you had the power to change anything in Africa what would it be?
Kaysha: If I had the power to magically change something in Africa in one day, I would just bring intelligence & education to the whole population.People would then stop allowing foreign countries stimulate hate and we would be able to create an auto alimented afro-centric continent that would stand equal before the other continents... Leaders wouldn't be able to generate hatred between people of the same blood and the masses wouldn't be easily manipulable... The countries would be clean and technologically advanced, yet totally ancred in their roots and
culture would be put in front with pride...
Watch One Love by Kaysha.

Mmalawi Blog: Now lets talk about Malawi, what is your advice for the Malawian youth?
Kaysha: Keep the head up, we're getting there...
Mmalawi Blog: In Malawi, the music does not usually reach greater heights like yours does, what is your advice for young upcoming Malawian musicians?
Kaysha: My advice would go to the government: We need to put the culture first and have laws that empowers the culture. Culture is the best way to represent a country. Musicians, actors, directors, singers, etc, need copyright, right protection, tv stations need to pay fees when they play your song and these fees would go to the creators of songs. Piracy needs to have boundaries set by the people who are supposed to represent the law. And African musicians must just understand that the future is now and it has never been so easy to sell your own music
online... Make it happen
Mmalawi Blog: Kaysha tell us, what are plans for the future?
Kaysha: I have my double cd "Forever young" that is coming out december 23rd and I'm running my label and putting out more and more records. I'm moving into film very soon and my Sushiraw African Clothing Company is also geting good exposure( http://skin.kaysha.com)
Mmalawi Blog: How can people check out your music?
Kaysha: Everything is at Kaysha.Com http://www.kaysha.com
Mmalawi Blog: Any last words?
Kaysha: Check out my Malawi tshirt at
http://www.mysoti.com/mysoti/product/17280
And much love to you reading this interview right now. Thanks a lot for your time, Muah!
Dance with Kaysha in this Video: On dit Quoi

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Buy Kaysha's music here:
http://kaysha.com/store/kaysha

Interview by Postera Tenthani in Montreal, Canada for http://mmalawi.blogspot.com/ (2008)
Photos courtesy of Kaysha.Com

This Tuesday: Exclusive Interview with African Megastar Kaysha

African Musician Kaysha is a Producer,who won 2 Kora Awards (Best African Artist), MTV Europe Award Nominee, He appeared on CNN several times. Kaysha, the CEO of SUSHIRAW Entertainment has granted us a special interview that will be posted on Mmalawi Blog this Tuesday. In the interview, Kaysha will talk about his present future plans.
Watch a Video Directed/Sung/Mixed by Kaysha "The African Timbaland"


His Exclusive Interview will be Posted on Monday on:
http://mmalawi.blogspot.com/

Is Christmas Celebration for Whites Only? Video of African Santa's verbal Abuse

(Picture of a Malawian Santa?) VIDEO BELOW

I was asked several times, if I am offended when I see everywhere a white Santa Claus. I responded by saying that I really did not care because I don’t celebrate Christmas anyways.

Many Malawians and Africans alike do not bother buying chickens or turkeys (which are scarce) for Christmas. The Christmas fever that begins after Halloween day with decorations everywhere is not seen in many African countries. Even snow is never seen, except by those living close to the Kilimanjaro in Tanzania and Kenya. I talked to friends in Malawi (in Lilongwe and one in Blantyre) and they both told me that the day was special simply because they did not work. My friend in Lilongwe talked of a black Santa Claus who was distributing candy at Lilongwe Shoprite and when kids wanted to get more, he would tell them “Iwe mesa walandila kale, bwanji kodi?” (I already gave you candy, what else do you want from me?”) Christmas in Malawi and Christmas in Africa is not a 'big deal' as it is in the Western World.

As a matter of fact, Jesus Christ was not even born on the 25^th of December, so what the heck!

A white friend of mine asked me today: “Do you think Christmas is a celebration mainly for the Westerners and whites?” Well you decide.

A Video of a Malawian Santa abusing kids verbally:

Picture courtesy Kim Thomas' Blog

By Postera Tenthani for http://mmalawi.blogspot.com/

Why Madonna and Malawi Are Fighting

When a Malawians go outside the country, most of the times it is to study, to work or to visit and they usually return after a period of time. Many Malawians believe in the proverb: “N’kwanu n’kwanu m’thengo mudalaka njoka” (You can go anywhere, but you have to return home one day). David Banda's was the first ever adoption recorded in the history of Malawi. While Madonna had adoption plans in her mind, many Malawians thought of it as a kind act of guarding David for few years before returning him to his roots.

The dictator Kamuzu Banda went to study abroad and when he returned in the 60s, he became President of Malawi. John Chilembwe, the first Malawian to resist colonialism was educated in the United States, and is a hero and Chilembwe Day is a Malawian National holiday to commemorate his achievements. For many, especially Malawians in the villages, David Banda would simply go and come back as a hero. Madonna’s adoption plans were simply never heard of by many. (AP image)

Madonna just split with husband Guy Ritchie and is now linked to Brazilian supermodel Jesus Luz. A Brazilian website Glamurama writes about the Supermodel and David Banda’s ‘mother’: 'Everyone knows they are ficando - which is a Portuguese expression that means they are kissing and doing other things but without any obligation of being faithful or getting into a relationship afterwards.'

A father figure is very important to Malawians and for David Banda, it looks like he will not have any because Guy Ritchie was supposed to be the ‘father’ but then came American baseball star Alex 'A-Rod' Rodriguez and now Jesus Luz. All of these men are entering and exiting David Banda’s life who probably does not notice anything, as of yet. This is only 2 years after his adoption. This is all overwhelming for many Malawians. They will not understand Madonna for many years to come, even if she adopts a second child from there.

http://mmalawi.blogspot.com/

Malawi Web Awards (2008) Winners

Thank you all for your votes! Our mailbox was filling with more than 150 mails every day. We received many praises for this initiative and we also thank all for participating in this exciting event. Next year we will make it even bigger. The votes have been tallied so please watch the Youtube video.
VIDEO OF THE 2008 MALAWI AWARDS WINNERS:

The LIST:
2008 MALAWI WEB AWARDS WINNERS
Malawian Web Entrepreneur of the Year Award Nominees
Chimwemwe Ncozana for Radio Yako and Yako Web Solutions
Dumisani Kapanga for MalawianMP3.com (WINNER)
Qabaniso Malewezi for Abstrak Entertainment
Limbani Kalilani (Tay Grin) for Phone Yanu (Pvt)
Malawi Web Award for Best Online Broadcasting Media Nominees
Capital FM Malawi
Radio Yako
Kwacha Fm (WINNER)
Radio Maria Malawi
Malawi Web Award in Best Online Social Interactive Media (Entertainment, Social or Political) Nominees
Radio Yako
Kwacha FM
Nyasa Times
Malawiana.net and MalawiSN (WINNER)
Nyasanet Listserv
Malawi Web Artist of the Year Nominees
Tay Grin (WINNER)
Lucius Banda
Lawrence Mbenjere
Joe Gwaladi
Esau Mwamwaya
Ntambo Chibambo Kaendera

Achievement in Information Technology Award Nominees
Patrick Kalamula (Kuseka.com)
Likoma Tech Graphix (for Timve Mag) (WINNER)
Chimwemwe Ncozana (Yako Web Solutions)
Justin Malewezi Jnr (Malawian Weddings)
SPECIAL MENTION: STARMEDIA MW
Malawi Best News Website Nominees
Nyasa Times (WINNER)
Daily Times
Nation mw
Malawi Best Blog (All categories) Nominees
The Mmalawi Group
Anti-Bakili Muluzi
Victor Kaonga
William Kamkwamba (WINNER)
Steve Sharra
Bennet Kankuzi

Malawi Best Video Nominees (all on Youtube)
Lawrence Mbenjere Sewere,
Joe Gwaladi Zakanika;
Black Missionaries Mwana wa Munthu (WINNER)
Music from Malawi, Africa, Ministryofhope.org

2008 Leaders of Tommorow Award Nominees
Tajah Olson (Fashion, Modeling) (WINNER)
Andrew Kwizombe (Music, Journalism)
Chazz Matazz (Music)
Pempho Kafoteka (Journalism, entrepreneurship)

Malawi’s Personality of the Year Nominees
Hazel Warren (WINNER)
Tay Grin
Code Sangala
Kinnah Phiri
Albert Khoza

Award to Individual or Organization Promoting Malawian Culture Nominees
J&D records
Zoom 44
Malawiana.net
Nanzikambe (WINNER)
SPECIAL MENTION: www.malawithewarmheart.com
Malawi’s Journalist of the year Nominees:
Chimwemwe Ncozana (Radio Yako)
Thom Chiumia (Nyasa Times)
Sister Fire (Chantal Zoe Romarin) : Fm 101, M-Net Studio 53 (WINNER)
Pilirani Semu-Banda: Writer Daily Times Malawi, Freelance
Chaku Harawa: BBC (Focus on Africa)
Geoffrey Kapusa: TV Malawi (Music Splash)
Malawi Web Award for the Best Online Magazine. Nominees:
Together Magazine
Timve Magazine (WINNER)
Fairlane Magazine
Malawi Web Award for Best Website in Malawi. Nominees:
Nyasa Times
Radio Yako (WINNER)
Government of Malawi
Malawiana Net
Daily Times

The 2008 Malawi Web Awards Committe. POsted at http://mmalawi.blogspot.com/