Africa – Chanters Lodge Livingstone

Sarah Knight

Check this wonderful picture of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania with the lovely Sarah Knight in the foreground, before she climbed the mountain in aid of Sparks Childrens Charity. I got to know Sarah on Twitter where she’s @sarknight – well worth a follow!

In her usual life Sarah’s director of a regional recruitment agency – Sarah West Recruitment – and passionate about her industry, local business and her work. Mother to 2 amazing children who inspire her on a daily basis to not only aim high, but to enjoy the little things in life too.

Sarah has a ‘can do’ attitude to life and adventures, she loves life and tries to make the most of every moment and encourage others to do the same. Climbing Kilimanjaro was initially another flippant ‘yes’, little did she know that this adventure would be such a learning experience, bringing the rewards of new friendships and new experiences. That’s without even setting foot on the mountain!

If you follow her blog like I do, then I guess we’ll find out more about her climb when she has time to write. On Twitter she said it was without doubt the toughest thing she’s ever done in her life. Awesome I call it!

Sarah lives in Exeter, just 15 miles from where I was born.

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activities, Africa, children, Customers, leadership, Tanzania, tourism, Twitter

Da-gas

Another guest blog from George da Soulchild aka Kaufela tells us all about Da-gas and his new controversial album. George writes:

“While the country’s self-righteous politicians seem to seek only praise, it appears, resentment is what they mostly attract and often it comes in the form of music.

Little-known dancehall reggae singer Chomba Mutale, otherwise known as Da-gas, has just released an 11-track album which he says is about love – but going by its title track ‘Kankalidwe’ (lifestyle) it will inspire little love from politicians, especially those in government! In the song, the 28-year-old Lusaka based artist lays bare his anger and blames the politicians’ greedy lifestyle on skyrocketing poverty levels and the inequalities that exist between the country’s different social economic classes.

He attributes the culture of dishonesty and declining moral values to politicians who resort to pouring lies on the electorate each time there are elections. “You are the cause of our sisters becoming prostitutes, you are the reason why our brothers become thieves and you are the cause of poverty and suffering in this country” Da-gas tells politicians in the chorus of the song. He also castigates politicians for building themselves luxurious mansions while pensioners languish homeless without receiving their benefits.

Da-gas says as a Rastafarian, it hurts him to see so much suffering in the country and he feels obliged to speak about these things especially as the country heads to the polls this year. He says the song ‘Kankalidwe’ is all about sensitizing people to identify selfless political leaders who would represent the interests of the majority poor.

Da-gas however says he is not concerned by the harassment that musicians such as Twice of the Tomato Balunda fame have suffered in the past for singing songs critical of the government. He insists the album including Nkankalidwe is about love. “It’s all about love. Go to the hospital and you’ll find people sleeping on the floor with no beddings. People are suffering and I’m just trying to remind our leaders to show love to all these people” he says. “If leaders feel offended by the songs that musicians are producing, they should be more concerned about the songs that are full of vulgar and demeaning references to women.” He continued.

“I grew up with my mother who raised me singlehandedly. She used to encourage me to talk when I have something to say and she listened to us, so similarly I expect our leaders to listen when we the young people speak about issues that effect us” he says.

‘Kankalidwe’ is a follow-up to Da-gas’ debut album ‘Umm’hum’ released in late 2008, which was confined to party mongers that patronized nightclubs, as the artist struggled to personally sell copies of the album. Other songs on the new album are jointly produced by Baska Baska, Jerry Fingers and Jerry D. While his knack for conscience dancehall reggae is conspicuously obvious on his latest album, it may just suffer the same fate as his first. Vigorous marketing seems to elude the album.”

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2011, Africa, Economy, entertainment, music, Zambia

Magigi

George da Soulchild aka Kaufela aka George Mukwita, co-host of our regular Sunday night radio show on Zambezi 107.7 fm, Livingstone’s leading local radio station, writes about James Banda, Zambia’s youngest music producer.

“Call him ‘Jack Of All Trades’, James Banda otherwise known as ‘Magigi’ is multi-talented in music circles and it leaves one wondering how he’s mastered so much! The 16-year-old’s ability to produce, write and sing songs puts him in a class of his own. Magigi, a grade nine dropout, has embraced music to raise money for school.

In an interview Magigi said he had to drop out of school due to lack of sponsorship. After his father stopped working last year life became difficult for James, but despite the problems he was facing, he qualified to grade 10 at Libala High School – though he wasn’t able to take up the placement. Despite his considerable talent in music, Magigi is determined to go back to school, because for him, music goes well with education.

“I will surely go back to school because I cannot depend on music. Musicians get finished and so when things don’t go well for me, I can easily fall back on my education,” he said. Magigi urges upcoming musicians to prioritize education, stating that education is the only key to success. “Young musicians who don’t have interest in education will regret it, because anything can happen in music. School is very important in life actually, it is education that can help somebody make it in life” he said.

Magigi, a music producer at Flat Line studios, has single handedly written and produced an eight-track album entitled, ‘Certain Feelings’, the songs are currently receiving massive airplay on local radio stations. The youngest musician in the country is currently scouting for sponsorship, so that he can release the album. “I have finished the album and hopefully soon it will be on the shelves, but I’m looking for sponsors to help me promote my music. Again, I need to find money to register my music with Zamcops. I don’t have the licence yet to protect my music from piracy”. Magigi said.

On how he has managed to fit in the industry at his age, he recounts that he has a rare touch to his music. “I have courage in the industry. I give respect to those I have found in music, but I don’t fear them. I don’t compete with anyone because I do musical things differently. I sing about the realities of life,” Magigi noted.

He says through his music he speaks for the voiceless, especially the orphans and vulnerable children. “I speak for the people who are suffering in society. I teach people through music because I go to shanty compounds and see people are suffering. Sometimes I go on the streets to monitor street children. I thank God for giving me the talent,” Magigi related. He says he’s an open-minded person and always leaves room for criticism. “I like incorporating new ideas in my music. Even if I am young, I advise parents on various issues and due to the problems that I have passed through, I feel hurt whenever I am singing,” Magigi said.

Born to Francis, a retiree, and Joyce Banda, a marketeer at Lusaka’s Kamwala Clinic, Magigi is the last born in the family of five.”

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Africa, education, entertainment, Lusaka, radioshow, Zambia

Norway Rules!

Once again it’s our pleasure to introduce you to Norwegian guests staying at Chanters Lodge. Meet from left to right Erna Ravn, Silje Helland and Line Mannerud who featured last Sunday on our radio show – The Chanters Lodge Experience with the Milli Jam Ingredient featuring George da Soulchild. The show goes out between 20.30 and 21.30 hrs every Sunday night on Zambezi Radio 107.7fm, Livingstone’s most popular local radio station. We feature music and conversation in just about equal proportions, chart news from around the world and the latest from Lodgeblog, as well as giving away a weekly prize of dinner for two at Chanters to the first person to text us the answer to a deliberately simple question. This week we asked which country our guests hailed from and towards the end of the show Joyce quickly answered ‘Norway’ and won!

Erna, Silje and Line are 3rd year students at the University of Tromso in chilly Northern Norway, studying teaching and currently in Zambia for a month to complete their course practicals at Nansanzu Basic School in Livingstone. The girls will be educating Grade 8 pupils in history, home economics and maths respectively. They were due to start teaching on the Monday following the show having completed a week’s acclimatization, and we weren’t sure whether they were more nervous about starting work or appearing on radio! Mind you Line seemed nervous about nothing! The girls said they were staying at Chanters following a recommendation from fellow students who had stayed with us last year. We liked that!

“How long have you been in Livingstone?” Milli Jam wanted to know. The girls replied that they’d been in town just over a week. “What activities have you done?” He carried on, and here began the partial tale of woe! The girls told listeners they’d been for an elephant safari on Saturday morning and whilst they’d had a good time, as they were dismounting Line fell off the beast and cut her leg. On Friday evening they’d taken a sunset cruise and Erna had been stung by a wasp – her wrist was still sore and swollen as the show went on air. The girls said “these things go in threes, we’re waiting for something to happen to Silje”! We hoped not! “Had they been clubbing already?” They were asked. “Not yet” they replied expectantly… “but we’ve flown microlights over Victoria Falls and seen the Falls from the ground as well, getting very wet in the process.”

The music on the show was great. We opened with Enrique’s latest smash featuring Ludacris and DJ Frank E ‘Tonight I’m Loving You’ back to back with Jennifer Hudson’s ‘Where You At?’ Our Zambian tracks were Zeck Dizzy with ‘Danger’ coupled with T-Sean’s ‘Wonder Why’. Ne-Yo’s ‘One In A Million’ and Keysha Cole’s ‘I Ain’t Thru’ featuring Nicki Minaj went down well and so too did Christina Perri’s ‘Jar Of Hearts’. We asked the girls which band was ‘hot’ in Norway at the moment (as if you could be – lol!) and they told us Kvelertak. “You be careful” said Line “this is dark rock”! We promised we would be!

Inevitably Milli Jam and George wanted to know if the girls had boyfriends pining for them back in Norway. Erna had, Silje and Line hadn’t. “Where would you like to be and what would you like to be doing ten years from now?” We asked these three lovely, lively ladies. Erna wanted to be married to her boyfriend and teaching in Norway. The much travelled Line still wanted to be travelling and quite fancied teaching in Zambia. Silje wanted to be at home with 40 cats listening to classical music! (Yes 40!)

Amidst studio discussion about Arsenal’s 2nd half debacle the previous Saturday afternoon and Manchester United’s first league loss the same day, together with Liverpool beating Chelsea (Torres and all) that evening, the girls admitted they didn’t follow football but just loved skiing, though they supposed people in Zambia didn’t ski much! We confirmed that……..

Were the girls happy at Chanters? Milli Jam wanted to know. They were and just loved the Chanters Girls!

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activities, Africa, cricket, education, leadership, livingstone, Norway, radioshow, victoriafalls, volunteers, wildlife, Zambia

Oil In Zambia

Is there oil in Zambia – for one I hope not, it seems to bring nothing but trouble to the African countries that have it. Anyway I guess we’ll soon find out, according to OilVoice

Frontier Resources International, Plc has been awarded Petroleum Exploration Block 34 by the Zambian Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development. The Block, covering 6400 square kilometers, is located in the Kafue Trough approximately 150 kilometers southwest of the capital Lusaka. This area has had no previous hydrocarbon exploration and may form a part of the southwestern extension of the productive East African rift system.

The Company plans to immediately proceed with the completion of the licence application process which will include the opening of a local office in Lusaka. This is Frontier’s first exploration acreage in the southern African region where it plans to pursue additional opportunities. The Company’s existing oil and gas producing properties are onshore Texas.

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Africa, energy, entrepreneurship, infrastructure, Kafue, Zambia

Shadreck Mulilo – The Singing Chef!

I loved this story from The Post – a collision of my interests if ever there was one! We wish Shadreck all the best with his album and will certainly try and feature a track on our local radio show – The Chanters Lodge Experience with the Milli Jam Ingredient ft George da Soulchild which I co-host and which airs every Sunday at 20.30 hrs on Zambezi FM.

A Lusaka based chef says the release of his debut album Wilasakamana is the fulfillment of a childhood dream. Shadreck Mulilo, 30 of Lusaka’s five-star Taj Pamodzi Hotel says he has been singing since he was a child.

“Basically I will say I was born with music within me,” says the married father of three. “My father used to sing, though he was not a musician, but he loved playing guitar, and traditional instruments, and sometimes he would sing to my mother. Then I picked it up from there. In 1997, I met a friend named Joseph Chanda. He was singing and looking for a partner to sing with. We used to sing, rap…we blended so well, and we started from there.”

The duo featured on ZNBC TV’s ‘Sounds Good’ programme, before Mulilo decided to pursue his vision to do a solo project. Upon joining Pamodzi in 2005, Mulilo collaborated with the hotel’s resident band on working on his album. “The band had been in music for over 20 years, had retired, and they were singing jazz and blues music. I talked to them, they heard my vision, and they were excited. So we rehearsed for about a year and a half, then we were ready to go to the studio where we recorded all the instruments live.”

Wilasakamana, which was released last year, comprises ten songs of praise, worship and inspiration. Among these are the title track, Exalted, Twalipalwa, Ba Lesa wandi, Libe Iyacindikwa, Ewingansunga, Ba Neighbour and Tumulumbanye. Abstinence, which features two of Mulilo’s children, warns against the dangers of HIV/AIDS. Mulilo says the song, which talks about a high-achieving student who used to go nightclubs and later discovered that he was HIV positive, is based on a true story.

Mulilo has so far shot four music videos. He says there is abundant music talent in the country and condemns the rampant piracy that’s affecting the local industry. Mulilo, who has been a chef for over ten years, says music and cooking are his passions. “I’ve only chosen two things in my life: that is singing and cooking. So if I’m not singing, I’m cooking. If I’m not working, I’m at the studio, at church, or attending some shows. Cooking is demanding, but I think cooking is art as well as music,” Mulilo says.

Having previously also worked at Arabian Nights and Hotel Intercontinental, Mulilo says he is planning to write a book on cookery. “I am a worker of God, so minister Mulilo means working for God. I looked at how God wants me to work, which is to win souls to him and I looked at also vulnerable people, like the orphans, the children who need help … I said I could impact a small, a young generation, so that we leave an inheritance for them, and show them the good way,” says Mulilo.

Best of luck Shadreck! Keep on cooking and rocking!

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Africa, hotels, Lusaka, music, radioshow, Zambia

Stuck!

Check these pictures supplied by our Guests Des and Ant – intrepid 4×4 explorers with a vehicle supplied by Hemingways, Livingstone. They got stuck in the mud, in the bush, 90 kms west of Zimba, which is 75kms north of Livingstone. They had to walk almost 40 kms out of the bush to get mobile phone contact for a rescue.

Don’t be deceived by the pictures – that mud was apparently knee deep the moment you stepped in it. Hemingways managed to eventually haul them out of there!

Why were they there in the first place? They were looking for an access route into an area designated for their company to plant sugar cane.

Looks like they didn’t find it!!

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Africa, Chanters, development, entrepreneurship, guests, infrastructure, transport, travel, weather, Zambia

RIP Soosh Matix

George da Soulchild’s mournful piece about the passing of a local musician and DJ

Tributes have continued to flow in following the death of Tendai Maswiswi aka DJ Soosh Matix in a road accident in Lusaka last Friday. It’s very evident that the sudden departure of Lusaka’s Hot FM DJ Soosh has left a huge void in the hearts and minds of many that knew him. This is clear in the way several Zambian entertainers & the DJ’s Facebook status are filled with heartfelt condolences & memories of the very liked DJ Soosh Matix, much as he was known as funny DJ Soosh on radio. His family is mourning the child they have lost.

Soosh, a Zimbabwean who spent most of his productive life in Zambia, was born in Kadoma in 1982. He was employed at Lusaka’s Hot 87.7 FM as a DJ and worked passionately with many local Zambian hip hop artists, including the XYZ crew where he became a member and helped promote the group’s brand.

XYZ founder Slap Dee said the hip hop family will miss Soosh, adding that XYZ will never be the same without him. “Soosh was like a brother to me – a brother who supported XYZ and represented it as his crew. I still don’t believe he’s gone and it will take me some time to come to terms with what has happened. We will soon work on the ‘Unwritten Testament Reload’ Soosh’s album, and all funds raised from album sales will go to his child and to the mother of his child” he said.

Zambian rapper C.R.I.$.I.S has described Soosh as a creative and open-minded person. “Despite being from Zimbabwe, Soosh quickly grasped the local Zambian languages and had no problem fitting into society. This was symbolic of his being an open-minded person. He was always ready and excited to learn new things or explore horizons further than the eye could see. He was full of life and always had something up his sleeve. He was constantly creative and trying new things, as he hated monotony.” Said C.R.I.$.I.$ who performed with Soosh on several occasions, including last year when the duo went to Zimbabwe to perform at the Akon-Sean Paul concert.

“I will always remember him for his great humour and understanding. Just the thought of working with him puts a smile on my face and I know that I was blessed to have had a friend like him. African Hip-Hop has lost a valuable part and it’s irreplaceable,” added C.R.I.$.I.$.

In broadcasting, Soosh’s versatility shone through, with his lively and highly interactive shows on Hot FM drawing scores of listeners. He fondly described himself as the ‘baddest boy on radio’. His colleagues at the station had difficulties accepting news of his passing on, dedicating most of their shifts last week to paying their last respects. The corporate world will also dearly miss Soosh who hosted a number of corporate shows including the Brick and Lace concert last year and most recently the Zamtel-Hot FM Panga Nyimbo project where he played a very prominent role.

On Monday, various musicians, radio personalities, friends, colleagues and family members gathered at Ideal Funeral Home in Villa, Lusaka to bid farewell as Soosh’s body was later taken to Zimbabwe for burial. At the time of his death, he had recorded several songs and had just released an EP called ‘The Unwritten Testament.’ It had underground hits such as ‘Close Your Eyes,’ ‘Move Back’ and ‘Two.’ He was passionate about the project which featured production from several producers around the African continent.

Tendai had also just been listed to be a part of Sony Music as a budding artist. His music proved popular among the Hip-Hop fraternity and his dream was just beginning to unfold.

Rest in peace Soosh Matix.

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Africa, entertainment, Lusaka, music, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Africonnect

We’ve been clients of Africonnect since 2005 and were in fact one of the first establishments in Livingstone to use their services and to have wifi broadband. We’re delighted they’re expanding and developing and all in all the service is good, though I complain a lot….We are an ‘ISpot’ open to the public for internet connection at reasonable rates as well as providing a generally good service for our guests. If we had a criticism? Their PR.

Africonnect has commissioned a high speed fibre optic cable link to connect Zambia to the rest of the world. Africonnect Managing Director Mark Bennett said in Lusaka today that the move was part of the continued integration of Africonnect into the Vodacom Group network. Mr. Bennett said at a media briefing in Lusaka today that the company has commissioned a direct fibre link directly into South Africa with ultra low latency.

Zanis reports that he said quicker, more reliable and more robust connectivity into South Africa will improve efficiency for all customers who are connected to the headquarters, suppliers, customers or websites located in South Africa. Mr. Bennett further said in addition to the new fibre installation, Africonnect has commissioned more resilience through a second terrestrial link to Europe, and has bought more satellite capacity, which will offer 1:1 back- up in case of any fibre cuts or scheduled maintenance.

He said part two of the international fibre installation will include the commissioning of an MPLS link into the Vodacom MPLS network located in Johannesburg. He said this will be live in the next weeks. Mr. Bennett noted that the network expansion is now well under way while the upgrading of the Copperbelt network that will create an MPLS backbone between the Copperbelt and Lusaka has been completed.

He said the network upgrading will increase capacity in Kitwe, Ndola and Chingola. He further said as a commitment to the growth of the Copperbelt, the company has also introduced new services in Luanshya, Mufulira and Chililabombwe. He added that Africonnect has begun wireless broadband service in Mazabuka and Siavonga.

Meanwhile, Mr. Bennett has disclosed that with effect from 1st March this year, Africonnect will introduce new low cost; pay-as- you- go wireless internet access. He said for the past five years, Africonnect has offered its high- speed iConnect broadband service via fixed monthly subscriptions with higher cost equipment. He said the company is now introducing a service for homes and small businesses with a start- up cost of under K1 million, including equipment and an initial K300,000 of surf-time. Mr. Bennett has since said the new pay as you internet access will be available throughout Lusaka, with other towns following shortly.

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Africa, Chanters, guests, infrastructure, internet, service, victoriafalls, Zambia

Kat Harrison Plays 107.7 fm

Meet Kat Harrison, visiting Zambia with Riders For Health and the latest guest on our regular Sunday night radio show The Chanters Lodge Experience with the Milli Jam Ingredient featuring George da Soulchild, which I co-host, and which airs every Sunday at 20.30 hrs on Zambezi FM, 107.7 in Livingstone. ‘Let The Waves Flow’ is the station’s slogan.

First up Milli Jam wanted to know about Riders For Health, and Kat explained that in Africa millions of people are dying from easily-preventable diseases because health workers do not have the reliable transport to reach them. By ensuring health workers have access to vehicles that never break down, Riders for Health is making sure millions of people across Africa receive regular, reliable health care, often for the first time in their lives.

“Do you fix the vehicles yourself then?” Milli Jam wanted to know, and Kat, laughing, explained that she was the Monitoring and Evaluation Manager for the NGO and travelled a lot to the various countries in which Riders operate to assess progress. These countries included Malawi, The Gambia, and Nigeria. We commented that as Kat’s only been with the outfit less than 2 years, she’s certainly globe trotted a lot already. She agreed. We asked her about her education and Kat explained that she’d studied economics and international trade at Bath University as part of her further education.

“How did you come to choose Chanters Lodge?” Milli Jam wanted to know and Kat explained that a colleague of hers had recently stayed at the lodge and recommended it. She went on to say that she was happy and comfortable at the lodge and hoped that Riders would regularly use the lodge in future. “So do we!” I said.

Milli Jam asked Kat if it was true that she had an identical twin sister and Kat confirmed this, mentioning that her twin sister Liz was currently in Thailand working for an NGO involved with disaster risk management and that the two of them planned to climb Mount Kilimanjaro to raise money for Riders For Health in March. “Have you trained?” I asked. Kat hesitated….”sort of” was the rather unconvincing reply!

The music on the show was excellent as usual. After our opening theme we played ‘Amnesia’ by Skepta and ‘Big Screen’ from Wiz Khalifa. George chose two great Zambian tracks ‘Ma Gelo’ by the extremely hot Mampi, telling her man that his girlfriends don’t love him as much as she does, therefore he’ll be back! (Figures). We featured Mampi back to back (as it were) with ‘Bum Mbeya’ by Karasa which George explained was all about Karasa pleading for a date with a certain young lady! (Probably Mampi – ed).

‘Rolling In The Deep’ by Adele kept listeners right up to date with the latest hits from UK, and George confessed after he’d played Adele that Keri Hilson’s ‘Drippin” was on repeat at his home! Milli Jam chose Kanye West’s ‘Run Away’ and ‘You Make Me Better’ by Fabolous featuring Ne-Yo. We closed with Young Gangsta’s ‘Toot It And Boot It’.

Milli Jam asked Kat what music she liked and she told listeners here favourite artists at the moment were Ne-Yo, John Legend and Bruno Mars. Great taste – the assembled company agreed! We gave away the usual dinner for 2 at Chanters Lodge to the first person to text us Kat’s country of origin and the prize was quickly snapped up by Justin amidst a flurry of texters!

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accommodation, activities, Africa, charities, music, radioshow, Zambia

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