Malawi's Wendy Harawa to receive UMP Lifetime Achievement Award

The UMP Lifetime Achievement Award is a special honour given to individuals or entities that have made outstanding contributions to the creative industry in Malawi. Previous UMP Lifetime Achievement Award recipients include Jai Banda, Lucius Banda, Tapps Bandawe, Oscar Thomson, Mafunyeta, Vic Marley, Dynamike and Black Life Entertainment.

"Wendy is an enduring household name in Malawi's music circles,” UMP Awards executive producer Ken Zizwa said. "She has been around for 17 years. She has pushed beyond the supposed boundaries of an urban female musician to stamp her mark as a giant of Malawian music.

"She has inspired a generation of female musicians to follow their dreams in a male-dominated industry. She has done it with grace, diligence and her talents are recognised beyond Malawi. We are proud to be associated with this proud daughter of Malawi."

Harawa said she was honoured to be recognised for her contributions to Malawian music.

"I wouldn't be in a right position to say how I want to be remembered," she said. "I am just a person who has fought for change in the Malawi music industry. I am currently working on establishing myself as a gospel artist. As much as I may be an established artist in secular music, I consider myself as a newcomer in the gospel circles because the old chapter is closed. I am working on rebranding myself and will have new music coming out soon. I am also working with young talents and I have discovered a talented young girl from Karonga. Look out for her."

Harawa's interest in music began at the Chiwembe CCAP church choir in Blantyre. Her passion was nurtured by her uncles, guitarist Rex Harawa and singer Teddy Chisi, as well as renowned Zambian musician Leo 'K'Millian' Moyo.

She released her debut singe 'Ndakana' in 2003, which was followed by 'Unalonjeza' a year later. To date, she has released five albums: Noah (2003), Hero (2005), Africa (2007), Nalliah (2016) and Mundisunge Ndinu (2018). She has collaborated with Lulu on 'Sindirichoncho' and with Lucius Banda on ‘Wandidolola’ and ‘Okondedwa Wanga’. She has also worked with Jimmy D Psalmist (Nigeria) and DJ Cosmo (South Africa) as well as Zambian artists Mampi and Danny Kaya.