{{short description|Malawian musician (born 1996)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2020}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Ritaa | image = | alt = | caption = | birth_name = Rita Mwantalli | alias = Ritaa | birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1996|08|16}} | birth_place = Blantyre, Malawi | origin = Blantyre | genre = Afro pop, R&B | occupation = Singer, songwriter, Entrepreneur, CEO @ Serene General Dealers, mother company of House of Beauty by Serene & Permanent Makeup by Serene, among others | instrument = Vocals, guitar | years_active = 2015–present | label = Independent | website = {{URL|OfficialRitaa.com}} }}
'''Rita Kalonga''' (born 16 August 1996), known professionally by her stage name '''Ritaa''', is a Malawian musician, singer, songwriter and Entrepreneur
==Life and career== Based in Malawi's commercial city, Blantyre, Ritaa's breakthrough came in 2016 after releasing "Chapatali". The song features one of Malawi's pop stars, Dan Lu. The song peaked at number 1 on local charts.<ref>{{cite news |title=Ritaa overthrows Gwamba |url=https://malawi24.com/2016/06/01/ritaa-overthrows-gwamba |publisher=Malawi24}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Rise of Ritaa with Chapatali song featuring Dan Lu |url=https://www.nyasatimes.com/rise-of-ritaa-with-chapatali-song-featuring-dan-lu/ |accessdate=23 April 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Winners and losers in 2017 Nyasa Music Awards |url=https://malawi24.com/2017/05/02/winners-losers-2017-nyasa-music-awards/ |accessdate=23 April 2020}}</ref> Ritaa has worked with producers like BFB who used to produce for HHP and Blasto and has shared a stage with Tay Grin and co-headlined Carlsberg Malawi urban music bash. Ritaa draws her inspiration from the likes of Rihanna, Beyonce and the late Whitney Houston. She fuses Afro-pop, R&B, dancehall, and pop.
==Legacy== Chapatali is the first song by a female artist to chart on number 1 in Malawi Music top 100 and Weekly Malawi Music Top 20 chart by malawi-music.com. It remains the only song by a Malawian female artist to register over a hundred thousand downloads and half a million online streams on Malawi Music official website. In 2016, she also made history when she became the first Malawian female musician to have three songs at number 1 in the top 100 Malawi Music chart.<ref>{{cite news |title=Malawi Songstress Ritaa Madly Love, Releases Winner/ |url=https://www.nyasatimes.com/malawi-songstress-ritaa-madly-love-releases-winner/ |accessdate=23 April 2020 |publisher=Nyasa Times}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Malawi musician Ritaa dares Rihanna: Releases 'Down Down' |url=https://www.nyasatimes.com/malawi-musician-ritaa-dares-rihanna-releases/ |accessdate=23 April 2020}}</ref>
==Feminism and women's rights== Ritaa has been described as a feminist in the Malawi music industry. She has openly challenged patriarchy and championed for the rights of women in the country including freedom of dressing for women and girls in a country that is predominantly patriarchy.
==See also== *Music of Malawi
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *[http://OfficialRitaa.com Official website]
Category:1995 births Category:Living people Category:21st-century Malawian women singers Category:Feminist musicians