Thread by @BintiStories

ANNA MWALE
Musical Harmony Ex-e-cuted to Perfection

As children growing up in cosmopolitan Nairobi, we had to find every excuse and make the adults (parents, uncles, aunts and neighbors) play ‘Ex-E-Cuse Me Mama Mwale’ every weekend when they were off from work.

So, on a Saturday morning like today, we’d be jamming to ‘Ex-E-Cuse Me’ with wanton abandon; with the gramophone’s needle turning in the background.

For the little ones that were still finding their coordination mojo, seeing those seemingly disjointed kinetic movements added to the fun. The younger children enjoyed the music although those little feet got to be a little off-beat.

So, it may not come as a surprise that most of us might find it appropriate on a day like today, to tell our friends to ‘Ex-E-Cuse Me’ as we go back in time and relish our musical past.

Long after The Supremes’ reign of dominating the charts had ended, Anna Mwale sang with supreme verve and presence across continental Africa and Europe.

Two names we knew instantly whenever someone mentioned Zambia to us as kids: Kenneth Kaunda, the first President of Zambia and Anna Mwale.

Anna Mwale probably marketed Zambia more than the Ministry of Tourism and Arts did. With the glorious thunder of Mosi-oa-Tunya (Victoria Falls) complementing Anna’s artsy musical visuals, who would have resisted visiting Zambia’s Natural Wonder of the World?

[Editor’s Note: As we were concluding Anna Mwale’s story, we received news of the passing of Zambia’s founding Father of the Nation, Dr. Kenneth David Kaunda.

In keeping with African tradition and customs, we have altered some elements of the story in order to find a balance in telling our subject’s story while maintaining the relevance of Dr. Kaunda’s life and work from a historical context.

As we remember this Gallant Freedom Fighter, Great Son and Giant of Africa, many tributes keep pouring in.

Work on the original story began early this year.] Continues…..

Even today,the song ‘Ex-E-Cuse Me’ cuts across generations with an inter-generational appeal that's quite rare.

For children back in the day, Anna was just a phenomenal woman.

Growing up, there was a legendary musical figure called John Mwale who made soulful music around the time of Daudi Kabaka. Mwale happened to be Kabaka’s good friend.

Daudi Kabaka is one of the greats of Kenyan music having been one of the architects of the burgeoning Kenyan music industry in the 1960s. He is remembered as ‘ King of the Kenyan Twist’.

Kabaka’s music captured the spirit of a newly independent Kenya as it chronicled the ordinary Kenyan’s daily life.

So, we grew up thinking Anna Mwale was John Mwale’s daughter, or that they were at least related. Then all of a sudden, Anna Mwale disappeared. We were told that she had gone to a far away and strange land called Europe.

The specific country was Germany.

Many of the children were quite sad.

So, our friends took solace because that is where they made ‘Football Made in Germany', one of our favorite television programs.

We were hoping to see her back on stage, some day.

Multicultural before Multiculturalism Was a Thing
Before we even knew what multiculturalism was, Anna Mwale had already set the stage with ‘Ex-E-Cuse Me’.

The video tells the story best because we were used to seeing images in black and white from Southern Africa of people living in separate existences.

That image of apartheid South Africa so seared our hearts. So the ‘Ex-E-Cuse Me’ video was quite a welcome sight to see. There was no hint of segregation here.

Even as children, the video seemed a bit corny with a traffic police officer directing traffic in a European city during summer gridlock.

Restless, one of the drivers turns on his cassette player-CDs were not even in existence then.

As you may venture to guess, the beats start filling up the air. Gradually, the people get into it and the words-Phiri and Wamu laiza waya- start playin’ like fire.

That African drum-beat fire brings out a grandmother to her balcony to see what was goin’ on on her street below, her ‘matuta’ hair undone.

🎶Wamu Laiza Waya, Phiri Wamu laiza waya, Phiri…..🎶

If you had some headphones and were plugged in to YouTube or streaming on Spotify, you’d join in the fun too because the beats and the harmony were irresistible then-and still are today.

If this was the happiest period of your life, please just get on up and move a little bit. Just do it

🎶Wamu laiza waya! Phiri wamu laiza waya! Phiri wamu laiza waya! Phiri wamu laiza waya!

🎶Nili neka nili neka! Nili neka nili neka! Nili neka ine... Nili neka nili neka nili neka ine....🎶

🎶Back in ‘64 in Chipata, he went hunting with his brother, there was fighting... Phiri! People said he killed his, brother! Soon he left home for Rwanda! With a suitcase full of... Daga! Then he met mama! Mama! Mwale! And she told him not to... Worry!

Chorus:

Ex-E-Cuse me! Mama Mwale! People make too much yappy yappy, it’s too much mama! Yappy yappy! X2

Nili neka nili neka! Nili neka nili neka! Nili neka ine... Nili neka nili neka nili neka ine.... (Ohho! Mr. Phiri)

From Zimbabwe on to Zambia! With a suitcase full of... Daga! Then he met mama! Mama Mwale and she told him not to....

Chorus:

Ex-E-Cuse me! Mama Mwale! People make too much yappy yappy, it’s too much mama! Yappy yappy! X2

Bridge:

Phiri’s alone in this hunting game he’s feeling she left with shame... A lion’s guilty but he’s to blame farewell phiri! Farewell, farewell, farewell, farewell, farewell!

Wamu laizi waya! Phiri wamu laizi waya! Phiri wamu faizi waya! Phiri wamu laizi waya!

Ango yenda! Ali eka ango funa mama bale wake anasoba Phiri! Just Phiri mama Phiri!🎶

Chorus:

End:

Lyrics source: Lyrics.com

That Modulation
Honestly this was the first African song we knew with that kind of modulation. The change was just so refreshing to hear.

Have your say:
Someone do a remix.
The kids will love it.

State House Girls’ Rendition
In 2013, State House Girls’ High did a rendition of ‘Excuse Me’ as their entry to the Kenya Music Festival.

Folksy for the ones who grew up in the era of pop genre, and a bit urbane for the traditional types, the girls under the direction of William Akunda did an outstanding job.

State House Girls' Performing 'Excuse Me'

Almost 30 years since the original recording at the time of the performance, it goes to show how timeless Anna Mwale’s music is. What a performance it was!

That video. You just knew the secretary had to get on up and dance on top of what was presumably the Boss’ table. When you felt the beat, you couldn’t resist to shake off the heat-from the Summer sun.

Soon, Anna was dancing atop the table too.

While we’re still on cloud nine atop a table somewhere, we remember the good vibes Kenneth Kaunda used to bring whenever he visited Kenya.

It was like your favorite uncle coming over for a visit.

Hero

For one, Dr. Kenneth Kaunda was a hero for the liberation struggle of the country formerly known as Northern Rhodesia.

Together with the late Julius Kambarage Nyerere, the founding Father of Tanzania, the two were at the forefront of the liberation struggle in most of Southern Africa.

Peace Negotiator
In one of the iconic photos Kaunda appears with Jomo Kenyatta while mediating the Kenya-Somali Peace talks during a tense moment.

Kaunda In Kenyan Popular Culture
Kaunda Suit on Kaunda Street. The scarf. The Handkerchief. All the Kids In School Called Kaunda.

Kaunda: The Name
There had to be at least one Kaunda in every one of Nairobi’s elementary schools in those early days of independence.

The same applied to High schools as well.

That Kaunda was such a popular name in Kenya during the 60s up until the 1980s is a testament of Kaunda’s legacy and longevity as Africa’s liberation struggle hero.

If you had a classmate or a schoolmate called Kaunda, please raise your hand.
We see you.

The Kaunda in our school was great in football and had such a passion for the game, just like the senior Kaunda he was named after.

Football
Kenneth Kaunda loved football. At one point he was an umpire.

Courtesy: @KalushaPBwalya

Zambia’s national football team ‘The KK 11’ were legends to us as little kids.

Remember Leonard Mambo’ broadcasts:

“Kalusha Bwalya na mpira Kalusha..Kalusha anampatia Mulala

Mahmoud Abbas ameshika mpira pale. La!
Mulala. Hatari kwenye lango.

Hatari kwenye lango, Mulala. Philemon Mulala
Kalusha, anapiga mpira juu juu katikati ya kiwanja. Wakenya kuna hatari..

Mulala, Mulala anachenga moja mbili, Mulala, Mulala

Gggg...ggggg Gggg
GOAL.. GOOOOOOOOOOOAL Dah….

That’s how feared Zambia was in football.

Philemon Mulala went on to score a brace during the 1984 semi-finals of the CECAFA CUP Championship. Zambia beat Kenya 2-0.

Kaunda Suit
In an appearance with Tanzania’s first President, Kaunda remarked how good Nyerere looked with his Kaunda suit on.

How would the business-oriented capitalist Kenyans take it?
You’d get arrested if you wore the suit on the streets of Nairobi was the joke.

“So we decided it would be better to call it ‘Kaunda Suit’, '' recalled Kaunda.

Kaunda Street
Kaunda Street is one of the iconic streets of Nairobi.

Music
There were many numbers that Kenneth Kaunda loved but this one gave us goosebumps.

Tiyende Pamodzi
Kenneth Kaunda’s signature tune, Tiyende Pamodzi always brought to the fore the story of Pan Africanism and Africa’s liberation struggle.

‘Zambia Shall Be Free’
This title was a must in many home libraries around the estate. As you window-shop on Kaunda Street, you remember the Kenneth Kaunda autobiography ‘Zambia Shall Be Free’ that Daddy always had in his revered collection.

Rev Ndabaningi Sithole’s ‘Letters From Salisbury Prison’ was there too.

What fine hopes for Ghana and Africa were carried by Osagyefo Kwame Nkrumah’s ‘Ghana: The Autobiography of Kwame Nkrumah’.

Thinking about all these books that our parents read and things books, the tune reads your mind and starts playing.

‘Kabuku Langa’
That rhythm was unmistakable. The song was a rage for all those who tried to sing with made-up lyrics under the mango tree somewhere in rural East Africa.

All the boys waited to jump in at the ‘Buku Langa’ line trying to make the prepubescent voices as deep as possible.

How does Anna Write Her Songs?
Some of Anna Mwale’s songs come from things that happen in the family. Anna’s sister, Mau is the inspiration for the song, ‘Kabuku’. Anna remembers during an interview on Judy Ngulube’s show:

“Even Kabuku, it’s because you took mum’s book and showed it to everyone. (Eye’s roll). It was mum’s diary....

Mau: Look, when you (Anna) were at the National Service, this is what happened while you were away. Mummy took a book, she was really pissed off (Imitates mother’s voice)...lamentations….. kabuku...lamentations...kabuku!

Anna was just watching and next thing she was writing a song.”

Anna Mwale shared the stage with James Brown, Jermaine Jackson, Boney M and Germany’s Udo Jurgens. In her prime, she performed before tens of thousands of people.

How It Started
Anna grew up in an extended family that was quite musical. When she was fourteen, Anna wrote a song for a children’s TV series. "My father was a politician, my mother a teacher," says Mwale.

During an interview with Hersfelder Zeitung (Newspaper), Anna remembers how her love for music led her to make a life-changing decision. Anna had wanted to be a lawyer but her passion for music eventually took over and led her in a very different direction-careerwise.

Germany
Music took over Anna Mwale’s life early in her career. Through her first husband, Anna made some critical contacts in the music industry and networked a whole lot in the early years.

She played with various bands on stage until she ended up pursuing a solo career in music. Sony Music and CBS Records were beginning to pay attention to this African songstress.

Soon the two labels followed up their interests with contract offers.

Surprisingly, one of Anna Mwale’s songs, ended up on the Top Ten list in Spain.

Splitting her time between Munich and London, the following years saw Anna work very hard. She was on the road a lot. “I had a lot of nice performances,” says Mwale, at times more than 20 per month, in different countries.

She wrote film and commercial music, appeared at various events and shows - some pictures and videos can be found on the Internet today. She gave her probably biggest concert in front of 80,000 people.”

Asbach
Who ends up in Asbach with the husband’s family pastor as a “secret manager”? Well, love ended up taking Anna Mwale to Asbach where she lives with her husband Michael Hahn.

The two met in 2006 after Anna had made an appearance in Munich. Mr. Hahn is a Project Developer who is also on the road quite a bit.

Anna has spent time with her husband during his work-related travels. The couple has lived in Zambia, Nigeria, Rwanda and Qatar where Anna’s husband was working on various projects.
They have also lived in Berlin where Anna’s grown daughter lives.

Anna Mwale took a musical break in 2010 to get some time for herself. After having gotten plenty of rest, Anna cannot wait to get back to the stage. “I'm an artist deep down inside me,” explains Mwale and laughs. “This is my job and what I love.”

Musical Break
Anna Mwale took a musical break in 2010. Her husband has been instrumental in getting her to record again. Mr Hahn has enlisted the services of one of the top producers in helping secure Anna Mwale a good recording contract.

The Producer is said to have worked on a project with Beyonce and Christina Aguilera. Expect the songs to have a more mainstream appeal as opposed to the pop sounds of yesteryears. “I want to be authentic,” emphasizes Mwale.

Comeback In Asbach
A few years ago during the holiday season, Anna surprised many delighted guests as she performed some Christmas numbers.

With her sisters Mau and Mwiky, Anna Mwale performed much to the amazement of the congregation at the Asbacher Kirche (Church). Very few had an idea that Anna was an icon in her home country of Zambia and Africa, as a whole.

Crowd Pleaser
The New York Times’ Sheila Rule wrote in an August 1987 article about Anna Mwale’s stratospheric heights of fame.

In a 10-hour concert, with some of the biggest names in the industry like Jermaine Jackson, who is Michael Jackson’s brother, Anna easily won over the Nairobi crowd.

Out of dozens of performers during the All Africa Games Promotional Concert, the American-Jermaine Jackson of the Jackson Five fame was supposed to have been the main attraction at the concert.But the crowd pleaser was, yup, you guessed it right, Anna Mwale. The article states:

“There was no mention initially of such prominent African musicians as Luambo Luanzo Makiadi, the popular Zairian musician known as Franco.

Yet the biggest crowd pleaser at the 10-hour concert was not Mr. Jackson, the only American artist to appear, but Anna Mwale, a Zambian singer.

A review of the concert in The Weekly Review, a widely circulated local magazine, said that while Miss Mwale's ''voice and dance and song seemed more than an invitation to dance, Jermaine seemed to be groping for a gimmick to arouse the fans to respond.''

Away from the limelight, Anna composed for other musicians and also worked on many advertisement projects.

Back On Stage
Anna Mwale is planning on making a recording soon.

That much awaited comeback will have brought a career spanning over four decades to a momentous time in history when Africa honors the contributions of her favorite daughters: for their representation of all the diverse and rich tapestry of African culture in a dynamic way.

Exit the Stage
As Anna Mwale prepares for her comeback on stage, we remember the ones who’ve made an exit from the world stage.

We Remember
Our Founding Fathers.

Liberation Heroes

More Liberation Heroes

Civil Rights Heroes
With Martin Luther King Jr.

Civil Rights Heroes
With Malcolm X

One Zambia One Nation
The call of One Zambia One Nation was strong enough to unite the 72 ethnic groups of Zambia.

In what may have been a prescient vision, it is our hope that Kaunda’s Philosophy will one day result in:

‘One Africa One Nation’.

Kaunda and Makeba
Our beloved Kenneth Kaunda has now transitioned just like we do have transitions in music. In that transient state there will be music too.

Mama Betty will be there.

And when KK goes on to make that heavenly song, Mama Africa will be there too.

For all whose mothers are in heaven, that moment in glory would mean a lot for their African children.

In this season of so much loss, with COVID’s wanton loss,we remember that this is not the end. To see them on that other shore is the hope that faith instructs us to have. As we conclude our musical journey, we reflect on life’s journey in song.

As the songs of old said:

Though the clouds may hang over
There will be a brighter day
In that land they call Heaven
God Shall wipe our Tears Away

That Other Shore
Where life’s crystal river will take us to that land where there's no more sorrow and no more weeping. That crystal river will wash those tears that yet overflow-away.

When the handkerchief, in glorious white
Meets
That crystal river-