Mashallo Samilo (Malawi)

Mashallo Samilo is a Malawian singer, songwriter, and poet whose work bridges the worlds of music and literature. He began writing lyrics at age twelve and recorded his first single at sixteen, eventually releasing his debut album Clueless in 2012, later reissued as No Nah Trepidation. His 2018 album Welcome to Malawi, released by the French label Re Rêve Africain, expanded his international reach. A firm believer in music’s role as a tool of cultural revitalization, Samilo roots his sound in the cross-pollination of Malawian traditional dances, drawing on ancestral stories, moral values, and the spiritual well-being of his community. His parallel career as a writer includes The Rising Voices, a poetry anthology co-authored with Dr. Benedicto Wokomaatani Malunga that was adopted into the Malawian secondary school curriculum. Samilo sees himself as a custodian of Malawian music and literature, dedicated to preserving and transmitting cultural identity through timeless, socially relevant art.

Featured Song:

“Nyimbo Ngwa Mayi,” (meaning "Mother’s Song" in Chichewa), is Mashallo Samilo’s heartfelt tribute to maternal love, sacrifice, and the profound role mothers play in sustaining life. Composed in honor of Malawi’s Mother’s Day on October 15, the song celebrates the lifelong devotion of mothers while also encouraging gratitude, humility, and social responsibility. Its verses recount both personal appreciation—thanking a mother for raising and nurturing her child—and moral reflection, contrasting this love with the neglect some elders experience later in life. "I want to thank my mother today / You have raised me, I am grown up person now / This is your song, enjoy and dance."

Artist Website

Featured on:

Click image to learn more

“Nyimbo Ngwa Mayi”