Musician Eli Njuchi’s success defies his age. At just 20 years, he has one extended play (EP) and two albums to his name and commands a legion of fans that many twice his age can only admire.

The maturity in his lyrical content diminishes his small stature by a measurable degree. It is no wonder that Eli Njuchi has earned applause from staunch music critics and respect among his peers.

Music maestro Lulu said of the young artist: “I just love his humble attitude and the hardworking spirit in him. He does not make noise, but lets his art talk for him.”

His first offering, an EP titled The Book of Z comprising seven songs released in April 2020, proved to be a catalyst of a well-decorated solo career.

Eli Njuchi during the launch of his album Red Flag

In The Book of Eli, he more than doubles his efforts and lays down a musical case spreading across 16 songs. Not that anyone complained of the number of songs contained therein.

Many who had not heard of the name before The Book of Eli were taken aback when the youthful music sensation presided over one of the most jam-packed music events in Malawi music history at Robin’s Park in Blantyre in December last year.

To those who did not pay attention to his music journey until then, the sold-out concert at Robin’s Park marked his arrival on the music scene. But nay! This was merely a continuation of a journey which he started as one-third of the Lilongwe-based dancehall trio Njuchi Zitatu.

Predictably, after The Book of Eli, the focus of music lovers fell on the shoulders of the then 18-year-old. There was still an apparent disbelief if indeed the youngster, who oozed maturity and a sense of self-belief in the delivery of his art, was here to stay or was a mere one-hit wonder.

He told The Nation in a recent interview: “Life is a book. It gives me all the lyrics I need to make a record. I am always looking to the life book for more lectures.”

So, when the artist announced the release of his second album Red Flag, the hype and expectation surrounding it was unstoppable. Here was a mark to distinguish himself from the many wannabes that have toyed on the country’s music terrain.

Listening to Red Flag gives a feeling of a man who has grown more than the two year period that stands between his last and latest album.

“Ndili pompaja pomwe munandisiya ndinkati mwina mudzanditenga. Misozi yanga ikuyandamira, mukachedwa mupeza ndamira. Kholo munalitenga, katundu pakhomo anadzatenga”…sings the artist in the song Too Long.

In this composition, Eli Njuchi is reflecting on the predicament that falls on many people who lose their parents while at a tender age. Despite the initial promise by relatives to take care of them, the children are left on their own to face the harshness of life.

The subject and concept may be a tired one in the ears of many. But the artist realised the power to refresh it and present it in a manner that it will be appreciated and he did just that.

Just like in his two previous offerings, the love theme is apparent in Red Flag. Eli Njuchi sings about his frustrated efforts at love in Gold Digger as he denounces a lover who was all-out to take advantage of him.

He sings: “Chikondi chenji chasanduka mtaji, kufatsa kwanga mwapeza mwayi. Nyamukani kwanu mukanene. Kapezeni mgodi wina mukakumbe.”

One distinct element about the album is that Eli Njuchi delivered all the ten songs within a three-minute duration.

Poet-cum-music critic Yangairo Yangairo lauded the artist’s ability to tell stories in a unique way like he did in the song Too Long.

“In the song, he is speaking to God in a different way from the rest of us. If you have never seen Eli Njuchi, but have listened to his music, you may think he is above 30 years. He has the most mature compositions among his peers,” he said.

However, Yangairo Yangairo feels despite its quality in both production and composition, Red Flag has failed to reach the standards that the artist set in The Book of Z and The Book of Eli.

The album comprises other songs such as Gugugu, Bodza, Block & Delete, Yampeza, Chilembwe and a daring interlude titled Silence which doesn’t contain any word or instrumentation. Eli Njuchi does all his magic in three minutes.

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