Skeffa Chimoto's review

Skeffa’s sings about life in ‘Nabola Moyo’
Reviewed by: Emmanuel Luciano
Lawrence Mbenjere’s Sewere is topping music sales in the country followed by Skeffa Chimoto’s Nabola Moyo. At least we know who Mbenjere is and how he has reached this far in music. But Skeffa Chimoto? I had not heard of the guy neither were I aware of his music. The only time I learnt that there was Skeffa Chimoto was when I discovered that his album was competing fairly with Mbenjere’s Sewere on the music market.
Interestingly, the ten-track Nabola Moyo is not the artist’s debut album, his first attempt to venture into music culminated in Wekha, an album, which by the artist’s own admission, was a flop. It was just as good as the album never existed at all.
Listening to Nabola Moyo, one might be tempted to say that the 25-year-old’s willpower to turn one’s failures into successes has paid dividends.
You get the impression that this time around the artist, who comes from Nkhotakota but stays in Lilongwe, got right everything he initially got wrong in Wekha. This time around he decided to concentrate on the music that would appeal to the emotions of many people; music that explores the intricacies of day to day life.
The strength of the album dwells in the creatively woven and consummate vocals. But that does not mean the sounds are badly mixed. In Chabodza, he tackles the vanity of love that is stirred by money in a rhythm that is more of Mozambican Passada but in vocals that would also remind one of Albert Khoza rendition of Akunenepa Nako.
In Musiyeni, he employs a Balaka reggae beat though in the manner that one would suggest it is Gift Fumulani of Chileka who is behind the microphone not Skeffa. Musiyeni is also the song that carries the message that would make those in misery happy. It stresses the fact that God does not segregate against anyone whether rich or poor, leader or follower.
The ultimate reggae song Chikondi was ordinarily handled. The song brings some kind of imbalance as it reduces the strength of the lyrics that make the album outstanding. The artist should have done better other than coming up with a song that every Jim and Jack would have conceived. But when all is said and done, those who are rushing for the copies of Nabola Moyo must have noted how good the artist is for them to fork out their money for a copy or two.
Other tracks in the album include a love song Usamasowe, Nabola Moyo the title-track, wedding song Tiye Darling and Ulesi.
Recorded and mixed at Studio Eclypse in Lilongwe, the album is available at O.G. Issa and other music outlets in the country.