Malawian R&B star Afron26 wins 1 million kwacha in “Na Lero" Challenge

Malawian R&B musician Afron26 has emerged victorious in the "Na Lero" Verse One Challenge, winning 1 million kwacha. The competition, hosted by Drumos, currently based in the USA, sought to engage male participants in redoing and translating the first verse of Nepman's song "Na Lero," which originally came out in 2015, into English, as the original track is performed in Chewa.

To kick things off, the challenge was launched on November 1 and saw over 30 contenders participating, with most adhering to the competition's rules.

Notably, it attracted both budding and established artists, including prominent figures like Truemale and Pon G, who reached the top five.

Furthermore, musician Don Foxxy also threw his hat into the ring but did not place in the top ranks.

As the competition unfolded, it was initially set to last a week; however, due to the overwhelming interest, it was extended to give more participants a chance to shine.

On Wednesday, November 12, Drumos announced Afron26 as the winner, while Maxwel Jabili also received recognition for his impressive performance

In a show of support, Kabolombwe who contributed a hip hop verse in the "Na Lero" original song and Kenneth Nselema, both in the USA, contributed 500,000 kwacha for Jabili's noteworthy verse.

Additionally, budding Dancehall artist Winter Charge made it to the top five, proving that fresh talent was in abundance.

In reflecting on the event, Nepman expressed gratitude to all participants, stating he was amazed by the significant turnout and wished everyone success in their future musical endeavors.

Looking ahead, Drumos pointed out that this "Na Lero" challenge was the second of its kind, following an earlier competition featuring female artists redoing the Lungu Vybz song "Reverend," which Memory won by translating English verses into Chewa.