Telling stories, promoting self love in music

For singer and songwriter Mtameni Kachusa, who performs under the name Just Mtameni, music has never been about chasing trends or instant fame. Instead, it has been a quiet, deliberate journey of growth, one shaped by storytelling, lived experiences and a deep respect for Malawi’s musical heritage. “I recorded my first song when I was in secondary school in 2012.

I started out as a rapper like almost everyone at our school at the time. I’m a little embarrassed to share the title now, but that is where my journey began,” he said. That early experimentation laid the foundation for an artistic evolution that would later take shape at the University of Malawi, where Mtameni studied music and transitioned into singing.

“That is where I really found my voice. Studying music helped me to understand myself as an artist and the kind of sound I wanted to make,” he said. Growing up, Mtameni’s musical identity was nurtured through family moments sound tracked by Malawian classics.

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“I grew up listening to a lot of George Mkandawire. His music was always playing during car drives with my dad,” he said. He also mentions Wambali Mkandawire, Evison Matafale and Lulu as his formative influences.

These influences have blended into a sound that is intimate and reflective. “My music is mostly guitar led, built around simple heartfelt melodies that fuse folk and R ‘n’ B. It is like Lawi meets Lulu with a subtle touch of Wambali woven in,” Mtameni said.

In recent years, his steady artistic growth has translated into notable milestones. “Last year was quite an amazing journey for me. I performed in Kenya at an event in Nairobi.

I was featured on Faith Mussa’s songChotsaMantha and I performed at Lake of Stars and the Zomba City Festival,” said Mtameni. However, like many Malawian artists, he continues to navigate structural challenges within the industry. “One of the biggest challenges for most artists in Malawi is limited resources and funding. Accessing high end equipment to elevate the sound and investing in quality productions such as music videos is not easy,” he said.

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