{{Short description|Malawian Afro-soul singer}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Faith Mussa | birth_name = Faith Ambudye Che Muphuwa Mussa | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1985|08|10|df=y}} | birth_place = Blantyre, Malawi | genre = {{Ublist|Afro-soul|Afrobeat}} | occupation = Musician<br> songwriter | years_active = 2000–present | spouse = | partner = }}
'''Faith Ambudye Che Muphuwa Mussa''' (born 10 August 1985) is a Malawian Afro-soul singer, guitarist and songwriter.<ref name=":2">{{Cite news |title=Faith Mussa: Malawi's electronic one-man band of Afro-soul |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-africa-43380696 |access-date=2024-03-29 |language=en-GB}}</ref> He won his first award in August 2004 in Chirunga Awards as the best male singer. In 2018, he won two UMP Awards in Best Live Act as well as Best Afro-soul Artist/Group.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=2018-12-30 |title=Malawi 2018 UMP Awards: All the winners |url=https://www.musicinafrica.net/magazine/malawi-2018-ump-awards-all-winners |access-date=2024-03-21 |website=Music In Africa |language=en}}</ref> In 2016, was nominated for the same category and award. In 2013, he won a National award for his best single titled "Desperate". In 2017, his song titled "Mdidi" won the Best Single in Nyasa Music Awards. In 2018, he won another award again in Best Live Act.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2015-04-13 |title=Faith Mussa |url=https://www.musicinafrica.net/directory/faith-mussa |access-date=2024-03-29 |website=Music In Africa |language=en}}</ref><ref name="Romero">{{Cite web |last=Romero |first=Angel |date=2019-07-31 |title=Artist Profiles: Faith Mussa {{!}} World Music Central |url=https://worldmusiccentral.org/2019/07/31/artist-profiles-faith-mussa/ |access-date=2024-03-29 |language=en-US}}</ref>
== Background ==
=== Early life === Mussa was born on 10 August 1985, in Ndirande, Blantyre.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" />
== Music career == Mussa began his music career in his village of Ndirande in Blantyre when he was young after being heavily influenced by his own parents who at the time were performing in the 'Mussa Family'. When Mussa was 10 years old, he started teaching himself to play drums and home-made gallon guitars as well as milk-tins while imitating the tunes from radio along with his friends and siblings. His music career took off with the launching of his debut solo studio album titled, “Desperate,” after few years of playing in his family band.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://malawi24.com/2023/05/13/malawi-musical-phenomenon-unleashed-faith-mussas-mesmerizing-guitar-skills-collide-with-nyago-musics-captivating-vocals-in-tsokonombwe/|title=Malawi Musical Phenomenon Unleashed! Faith Mussa's Mesmerizing Guitar Skills Collide with NyaGo Music's Captivating Vocals in Tsokonombwe Malawi 24 | Latest News from Malawi|first=Malawi24|last=Reporter|date=May 13, 2023}}</ref><ref name="Romero"/><ref name=":2" />
Mussa has performed at some of the world's biggest and prestigious festivals, including Northern Norway's Arts Festival, Glastonbury, Sauti za Busara 2019, Lake of Stars, World Fest California, Tumaini Festival, and many others.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mughogho |first=Lyonike |date=2018-07-15 |title=Faith Mussa to tour Europe Malawi 24 {{!}} Latest News from Malawi |url=https://malawi24.com/2018/07/15/faith-mussa-to-tour-europe/ |access-date=2024-03-29 |website=Malawi 24 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Murmures {{!}} Africultures : Mjura, Faith Mussa, Mawanga in Norway |url=https://africultures.com/murmures/?no=18435 |access-date=2024-03-29 |website=Africultures |language=fr-FR}}</ref>
Mussa has received various important prizes in Malawi, including the Nyasa Award 2017 for best song of the year, the Malawi Special Achievers Award 2017, and the MAM Award 2013 for the best song of the year.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" />
Mussa's style of music is the combination of African traditional vibes with the modern sound.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" />
=== Collaboration with Organisations === Mussa has worked with several organisations such as the UNICEF, UNFPA, PLAN International, UNITED PURPOSE, OXFAM and is the current an ambassador for the World Vision Malawi that conducts campaigns to against child abuse and marriages.<ref name=":0" />
== Achievements ==
=== UMP Awards === Source:<ref name=":1" /> {{Awards table}} |- |2018 |Himself | Best Live Act |{{won}} |- |2018 |Himself |Best Afro-soul Artist/Group |{{won}} |- |2016 |Himself |Best Afro-soul Artist/Group |{{won}} {{end}}
=== Nyasa Music Awards === Source:<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-08-03 |title=Faith Mussa set to launch 'Mdidi' album in style at BICC: Old Mussa Family to perform - Malawi Nyasa Times - News from Malawi about Malawi |url=https://www.nyasatimes.com/faith-mussa-set-to-launch-mdidi-album-in-style-at-bicc-old-mussa-family-to-perform/ |access-date=2024-03-29 |website=www.nyasatimes.com |language=en-GB}}</ref> {{Awards table}} |- |2018 |Himself |Best Live Act |{{won}} |- |2017 |Mdidi |Best Single of the Year |{{won}} {{end}}
=== Malawi Special Achievers Award === Source:<ref name=":0" /><ref>https://allafrica.com/stories/201706180006.html</ref> {{Awards table}} |- |2017 |Himself |Best artist |{{won}} {{end}}
=== MAM Awards === Source:<ref name=":0" /> {{Awards table}} |- |2013 |Himself |best song of the year |{{won}} {{end}}
=== Malawi National Awards === Source:<ref name=":0" /> {{Awards table}} |- |2004 |Desperate |Best single |{{won}} {{end}}
=== Chirunga Awards === Source:<ref name=":0" /> {{Awards table}} |- |2004 |Himself |Best Male Singer |{{won}} {{end}}
== Controversies == In January 2017, Mussa was reported refusing to perform at Christian Youth Association of Malawi symposium in South Africa where Prophet Shepherd Bushiri was the guest speaker.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Richard |first=Mphatso Khutcha |date=2017-01-20 |title=Faith Mussa distances himself from Bushiri event Malawi 24 {{!}} Latest News from Malawi |url=https://malawi24.com/2017/01/20/faith-mussa-distances-bushiri-event/ |access-date=2024-03-29 |website=Malawi 24 |language=en-US}}</ref>
In June 2020, Mussa faced heavy criticism for his new hair style that he had done as some claimed it did not befit a musician of that realm. The scenario began when Mussa posted a photo on Facebook that showed him in dreadlocks.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mughogho |first=Lyonike |date=2020-06-01 |title=Faith 'locks' controversy Malawi 24 {{!}} Latest News from Malawi |url=https://malawi24.com/2020/06/01/faith-locks-controversy/ |access-date=2024-03-29 |website=Malawi 24 |language=en-US}}</ref>
== References == {{reflist}} {{Portal bar|Africa|Biography|Music|Malawi}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mussa, Faith}} Category:Living people Category:Malawian musicians Category:Malawian singers Category:Malawian rappers Category:1985 births Category:Malawian songwriters Category:People from Lilongwe Category:People from Blantyre Category:21st-century Malawian singers Category:Malawian pop singers Category:The UMP Awards winners Category:Afrobeats musicians Category:Malawian singer-songwriters Category:21st-century Malawian people Category:Malawian gospel singers