Malawian hip-hop heavyweight Waxy Kay honours his mother, Mary Kapenga, on “Mama,” a surprise single timed for Mother’s Day.
Waxy Kay, born Wonderful Kapenga, released the song in time for Malawi’s Mother’s Day celebrations. It is a personal tribute first, but it also speaks for mothers across the country. He keeps the message plain: show appreciation to the people who shaped your life while they are still around. Family pictures in the visuals widen the story, so listeners can see their own homes reflected in it.
This is not the first time his mother has appeared in his music. Years ago, he featured Mama Kapenga on the gospel record “Mutsutsanenawo,” which means she has literally shared a microphone with him. So “Mama” feels like a natural next step, not a sudden gesture. It shows a bond that has run through his catalogue for years.
Waxy Kay has been a steady voice in Malawian rap, with songs like “Simatama,” “Ndizamuwone,” “Tsokonombwe,” and “Zokonda Anthu Okongola.” Tribute songs can sound stiff when artists play it safe, but a record about a real mother with a real name carries more weight. That detail gives the single its warmth.
For listeners across East and Southern Africa, the idea travels easily. Almost everyone has a “Mama” who deserves a call, a gift, or a song.
Call your own mother after “Mama” and tell us – what would you say to her?
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