By Chiyembekezo Kachitsa
Blantyre-based artist Lympie C is building her identity around music, resilience and a desire to inspire others while dreaming of taking Malawi to the world.
It was through a video by Malawian content creator Cena that Lympie C first caught my attention.
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The video featured people being asked to give their opinions on Lympie C’s then-recent song, “Ubwelele.” What began as a simple attempt to hear people’s reactions to her music led to curiosity about the artist behind the song.
Lympie C is not new to music. She grew up in a musical family, meaning music has always been part of her life. However, she decided to pursue it professionally in 2023, turning what had long been a part of her life into a career.
One of the biggest influences on her journey has been Nigerian singer Ayra Starr. Lympie C was inspired by Starr’s journey to the extent that she began branding herself as the “Malawian Ayra Starr.”
The identity has attracted its share of criticism, particularly on social media. But Lympie C says she has learned not to allow people’s opinions to dictate her choices.
“I don’t let social media get to me,” she says.
Her influences are not limited to international artists. She also credits Malawian artist Driemo for introducing her more deeply to Malawi’s music scene. She says she began listening to his music around 2021 and admires his talent and songwriting.
Rather than placing herself in one musical category, Lympie C prefers to let her music follow her emotions.
“I don’t have a specific genre,” she explains. “It’s just music.”
For her, music is also about having a message. Faith, hope and love are at the heart of what she wants to communicate, with a particular focus on empowering and inspiring girls.
Her definition of success is therefore not limited to awards or major performances. Lympie C considers reaching people through her music one of her biggest achievements, particularly when she learns that her work has helped someone going through a similar situation.
That connection has shaped her larger ambition. She wants her music to become a safe space for listeners and eventually build a community where people can be united through music.
Her journey, however, is taking place in an industry she believes remains difficult for female artists.
According to Lympie C, Malawi’s music industry has historically been male-centred and has not been particularly favourable to women. She acknowledges that gender bias remains a challenge, but rather than allowing it to discourage her, she intends to focus on her passion and the audience she hopes to build.
She describes herself as a simple Malawian girl who happens to be an artist and a warrior, while also seeing herself as an advocate for people who relate to her message.
That sense of purpose is perhaps what separates Lympie C’s ambitions from simply wanting to become a successful musician. She wants people to find something in her music that makes them feel seen, encouraged and connected.
And while her professional journey only began in 2023, her ambitions already extend beyond Malawi.
Asked what she would like people to know about her, she gives a simple warning to those watching her journey: “Be ready because we’re going to put Malawi on the map.”
For Lympie C, the journey is still beginning. But between the influence of artists she admires, the criticism she has learned to navigate and her desire to create music with purpose, she appears determined to build a career that is distinctly her own.
The “Malawian Ayra Starr” may have started as a bold identity, but Lympie C’s bigger goal is to make sure that when her music travels beyond Malawi, it carries her country with it.
