Abale Ndikuwuzeni

Let's start by introducing Gasper Nali's instrument, which is known as a babatoni. Once seen, it's never forgotten. It is a homemade bass guitar with a single string and a neck that stretches almost three metres in length. The resonator is a cow-skin drum and the instrument is played with a stick and a beer bottle.

Gasper Nali himself is a 35-year-old from Malawi who has spent many years entertaining tourists in the popular lodges in the area surrounding Nkhata Bay on the west side of Lake Malawi. His music is simple but joyous, and totally infectious. He rhythmically whacks the single string with his stick and uses his empty Carlsberg bottle as a slide. His huge fretboard is marked out with six numbers but, as he rather charmingly explains, he only really uses four positions. With one foot he operates his homemade cowskin kick-drum, which delivers an incessant and pleasing thump.

He sings in Malawi's Chichewa language and although his music is essentially Malawian there are other influences that can be heard. It reminds me of acoustic Zulu maskanda music – an edgy, almost punky rural troubadour folk style. It's very likeable, and anyone in any doubt can easily check him out on YouTube.