Madalitso Band
Malawian duo Madalitso Band, with their instinctive, authentic and driving rhythms, have conquered Europe at breakneck speed with two albums released in the last few years. Featuring foot-tapping drums, guitars and a three-metre-long, single-stringed babatone, Madalitso will make you clap, dance and smile live, and the band's performance will make you rethink everything you thought you knew about African sound and instrumentation.
Schedule
The Madalitso Band released their debut album Wasalala in 2019, followed by Musakayike in 2022 - and with these uplifting and vibrant albums, the duo, who were still trying to make a living from street performing a decade ago, quickly conquered Europe and the festivals here. The duo's minimalist set-up consists of a homemade one-string slide bass (babatone), a cowhide foot drum that they thump with the heel of their shoe, and a four-string guitar. The guitar, played by Yosefe Kalekeni, keeps the rhythm tight, while vocalist Yobu Malinga's long-necked babatone brings the lows and also serves as the lead instrument.
When asked why they make their own instruments, they simply reply "because that's how we get the sound we want to achieve". When they are not on tour, babatone player Yobu Malinga holds daily prayers in his house and guitarist Yosefe Kalekeni shapes clay bricks, but around Malawi they are increasingly revered as musical prophets.
House of Music Hungary
A music education centre and concert venue in the heart of the City Park, behind the airy futuristic glass facade of Japanese architect Sou Fujimoto.
