By Everson Luhanga
At the age of 93 years, legendary Malawian singer Giddes Chalamanda still dazzles his fans with the jam of his music.
Affectionately known as Agide, a term of respect for an elder as well as an abbreviation of his name, Chalamanda has been in the music industry for 75 years.
He started making music when he was just 12 years old, but had to wait until his nineties to find global success with the hit song “Linny”.
On Sunday, Giddes celebrated his 93rd birthday, with messages of admiration pouring in from his friends, fans, and other celebrities in the industry.
He recorded what has been a sensational global hit song “Linny” when he was 70 years old. The song, a mashup with a young artist Patience Namadingo, trended on TikTok last year, gaining millions of hits on the social media app.
The song also earned Chalamanda a lot of shows across Malawi and in other Southern African countries, including South Africa, Zambia, and Mozambique.
He toured in South Africa last year, where he dazzled fans in Cape Town and Johannesburg where he was booked to perform.
After achieving a degree of fame and fortune, he finally achieved a famous dream of his.
In “Linny”, he sings: “If I only had money, I would travel to America” – and recently he managed to do just that!
Artists from South Africa, the Philippines, and Canada have made their own remixes in appreciation of the track, which is said to speak to the soul of individuals who listen to it.
“Linny” is named after his daughter, who he praises in the song for being a loving and obedient daughter.
On his 92nd birthday, Chalamanda and his daughter Linny were guests of honour at Malawi State House, hosted by state President Lazarus Chakwera in the capital Lilongwe. The president presented the music legend with a trophy and a birthday present.
Chalamanda was also decorated with a Lifetime Achievement award by Maso Awards in November last year.
Pictured above: Giddes Chalamanda.
Image source: Malawi24
