Keturah African Art

Original Story Published by: Angelo Romero, www.worldmusiccentral.org
Photo Source: Courtesy of worldmusiccentral.com

Keturah is a folk singer from Malawi in southeastern Africa. At the age of 26, she released a self-titled debut album. Keturah is a 10-track set that chronicles Keturah’s journey from the tiny, remote home village of Monza to the shores of Venice, southern California.

Having never boarded an airplane, let alone leave Malawi, Keturah’s 30-hour trip proved to be a significant leap forward in her journey that began on foot. As a child, Keturah first realized her musical potential on walks through her village with her uncle. He would play his guitar and sing ballads. She’d just watch and listen until eventually gaining the confidence to join in with her own melodies.

Through music, Keturah began to form a connection with her community. As a child, she mostly kept to herself, often feeling more like an elder than a friend to her peers. She found solace in her thoughts or those of her mother, who regularly sat her down to share wisdom through stories and memories. The two became best friends until she passed away when Keturah was only 13. Having already lost her uncle, Keturah turned to music as a way of carrying forward her family’s message.

Not yet fourteen, but determined to reach a larger audience, again Keturah set out on foot, this time for Blantyre, Malawi’s second-largest city, where she hoped to find a recording studio. She met a local producer who was so impressed by her voice that he offered to record her for free. Keturah recorded one song that eventually made its way onto radio, launching her music career with releases empowering listeners to connect to their Malawian identity. The attitude resonated; Keturah earned the nickname “local girl” as she rose to the status of Malawian celebrity.