Watching this whole Dan Lu debacle unfold, I can’t help but recall all the stories of once-great companies and great people who felt like they were dealt a bad hand when their industry evolved and they couldn’t ride the wave. He sounds like former Nokia CEO Stephen Elop when Nokia financially choked and Android took over the large share of the market; he said, “We didn’t do anything wrong, but somehow we lost.”
However, my focus is not on Dan Lu per se; he is just a prop from which I am trying to communicate my message to all the pioneers struggling to keep up. It’s not strange to see veterans of the game drowning in an ocean they first charted the path in because sailing has changed. It’s more than just carving a boat out of wood, adjusting sails, and paddling; the whole boat has been reinvented with a lot of new technological gear.
I will not sit here and lie through my teeth that the name Dan Lu hasn’t been slowly fading into obscurity (at least from my end of the porch), ranging from the quality of the music coupled with his political association with the DPP regime. Based on how controversial that 2019 election went, a lot of people still do not look at the pop sensation kindly; he was rumored to have been stamped on the Mombera University staff payroll while the masses were barely keeping their head above water in a stringent economic climate.
Another victim of political affiliation who does not seem to learn from his previous experiences is Phungu Joseph Nkasa. A gifted local lyricist whose timeless compositions still resonate to this day, he has been consistently shortchanged by three political figures and their political parties, ranging from Atcheya, the late Bingu, Adadi. Which is why it was a shocker seeing him performing another political anthem for MCP at the convention after he had vowed to Malawians that he would steer clear from political associations due to previous experiences. I can’t front; his lyrical acumen is above par, which is why he finds himself nearing the golden tables of kings, though sadly not allowed to feast as soon as he dares to try and dig into the plate for his well-deserved share. He barely had a sip of the political chalice in the past and then got kicked out to the gutter like a party crasher.
What’s interesting, however, is that upon public uproar of their political affiliations and compositions, both Dan Lu and Nkasa waxed an identical lyrical tone, claiming they are only there to make bread and not necessarily sign up for the membership. While this might be a beneficial stance financially at the moment they are getting paid, it is a great disservice to the long-term survival of their brand. This is so because people might forget what you did but will always remember how it made them feel, especially when you make huge political anthems as huge as “Lozani Zanu” and “Mose wa Lero.” Most people are mentally and emotionally invested in these political figures, and associating with any of these, especially if you are a prominent artist, will always strike a chord that will resonate for ages, and depending on which political figure it is, they might like you or despise you. It’s hard to dismiss that Dan Lu’s political affiliation has left more than a chink in his armor, the same way it did for Nkasa (who momentarily redeemed himself now back undoing the work). It doesn’t matter how many PR statements you make; some people can’t tell if it’s just a job or an artist is truly supporting a political party.
Apart from the impact of their political affiliation, I sense that Dan Lu and Nkasa have fallen victim to the adverse effects of the music industry evolution because, as popular as they are, they can’t keep leaning on the archaic ways of the business, such as selling CDs and singing political praises. A few weeks ago, I even wrote on my Facebook wall that Nkasa could easily pen a proposal or seek out those who can help him do so to some corporate bodies for tour sponsorships. As one of his fans who grew up listening to the man, I would patronise his shows and happily pay rather than see my favorite artist commit career suicide just for a quick unsustainable political paycheck. I am sure there are plenty of people who would happily do the same if he ever tries to tour countrywide.
As for Dan Lu, he needs to collaborate more with these youngsters who are winning more than him in the game.He could put out collaborative singles with music videos and thrive off the creative juices of Eli Njuchi, Driemo, Merchah etc to gain back his spot. I was particularly glad when Nkasa collaborated with Gibo Pearson, even though I did not like the song, but it was a good business move if he had only kept it up. It doesn’t hurt re-learning how to navigate the terrain, but you will always make a fool of yourself if you resort to throwing tantrums like a child, such as calling fellow artists’ music bubblegum. It reeks of entitlement, bitterness, and old-head jealousy.
Insulting music promoters because they are asking for payment to promote your music is a clear indication of a lack of understanding that the game has changed, and they are trying to provide services to get paid just like you. They do not owe you free promotion simply because you are a veteran in the game. You either play the game or change it. He needs to sit down and figure out a way to navigate this new space. I am unsure if this rebel approach is a new way of paving his path, but if it is, he had better have a plan before this backfires and sends his career into oblivion.
The same can be said for Nkasa, who has a rich discography but has not migrated it to digital streaming platforms where Malawians in the diaspora can listen and book him for shows. I am unsure if this is even in the cards for a prominent artist who is not on social media and shows no interest in joining.
The bottom line is that music is a cutthroat business that cares little whether you are an old-timer or up-and-coming. If you are not business-savvy, you might end up compromising your art while destroying your brand permanently. Learn these new ways or perish with the old. The late Soldier Lucius Banda knew this and thrived. I wish more veterans could do the same instead of complaining and blaming it on everybody but themselves.
By Christian Wanangwa Mwase
