Chanters – Chanters Lodge Livingstone

Zambia – Music Scene

George Soulchild, who co-hosts our Sunday night radio show on 107.7 fm writes:

EXILE
Local artist Kangwa Kapampa aka Exile, born on the 4th of July 1981, is one of the most talented acts in the local music industry. He’s a music producer/composer, singer and runs his own establishment called Freedom Entertainment, but he is currently under contract with Showdown Records run by Runnel, another popular local artist, who featured on the Chanters show last year. Exile’s recent album “7 Days” was released late last year. The album is not doing as well as expected, but cannot be compared to his last offering, as his new project appeals more to the fans. It must be stated that his greatest work will always be his first album “So Lucky”, released under Mondo Music in 2004/5 and managed by Chisha Folotiya back then. On the latest Chanters show we played a song from his ‘7 Days’ album called “Nganalikwebele” (‘If I Had Told You’). The song talks about a man withholding some information of his past relationships or his infidelities from his woman, as a way of protecting her from further heartache when she demands the truth from him. The song is sung in Bemba.

AFUNIKA
Copperbelt based upcoming artist Frank Chirwa Jr, aka Afunika, is a music producer, songwriter as well as a singer. Last Saturday with other Copperbelt base artistes Afunika graced the Kambeba Lodge anniversary bash. His performance alongside his dancing queens proved to be the audience’s favourite as he performed his songs from his debut album including the current hit, Miss You (Fo Shize), which was clearly enjoyed by many at the show. The song is currently enjoying massive radio air play across the country including night clubs and the like. The song whose hook is sung in English with verses in Bemba talks about a man missing his woman and all the little things they used to do and how he just cant wait for them to reunite. Afunika’s Miss you (Fo Shize) was one of the local songs we played on the Chanters show. Afunika is without a doubt the most happening artist in Zambia today.

Brick & Lace (pictured above) and local artistes to share stage.
Local artistes JK, Mampi, Slap Dee and B-Flow are among selected artistes to share the stage with Jamaican R&B reggae fusion duo Brick and Lace at Lusaka’s Barclays Sports Complex and Hollywoood City this Saturday. Apart from Brick and Lace – comprising sisters Nyanda and Nailah Thorbourne – the local artistes will also join support performances from special guest Jozi from South Africa, and Zambia’s Celtel Star Search hip hop finalist Kapuka aka TR with his partner TEF from Canada. The performance will take place on 21st August with TY-2, P-Jay and No ID dancers as other supporting acts.

The concert whose tickets are being sold courtesy of Inzy and Zambezi Airlines will be anchored by QFM DJ Peaches and Chuma Phiri from rhythm100 radio online station, based in South Africa. It will also be supported by Channel O’s DJ Waxxy and DJ Gomez from France both of whom will make surprise appearances.

The show, which organisers say is meant to expose Zambian artistes to international talent, is expected to be attended by members of the National Arts Council executive committee.
Brick and Lace who originally consisted of three sisters; Nyanda, Nailah and Tasha Thorbourne will be visiting Zambia for the very first time with a track record of successful international tours, and are well-known to the Zambian market with hit songs from their debut album ‘Love is Wicked’.”

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AUG

Chanters, music, radioshow, Zambia

The Chanters Lodge Experience

It could be a title of a Guest review couldn’t it? In fact it’s the name of a weekly radio show, sponsored by Chanters Lodge on Zambezi Radio 107.7 fm, Livingstone’s leading local radio station. The full title of the show is ‘The Chanters Lodge Experience with the Milli Jam Ingredient featuring George Soulchild’. George and Milli Jam, famous local DJ’s, are pictured above. The show goes out live at 20.30 hours every Sunday.

The radio programme is essentially musical, featuring old pop, new pop and Zambian music. Richard Chanter, owner and manager of Chanters Lodge also features weekly on the show. A Guest from the lodge is usually invited to talk about their experiences in Zambia and at the lodge, and the music and chat are intertwined in an exciting and interesting way. Local personalities also feature on the show from time to time, and several members of staff at the lodge have guested on the show.

Last week our Guest was a retired professor of history from Australia who was interesting and entertaining. The music was good. The show featured two Zambian tracks – Exile with ‘Nganalikwe ba le’ (‘If I Had Told You’) and Afunika with ‘Darling’. (George might write more for the blog about these artists and tracks later in the week, time permitting). The show opened with ‘Candy’ by Aggro Santos ft Kimberley Wyatt. The new UK number one ‘Beautiful Monster’ by Ne-Yo featured, as well as Mary J Blige’s ‘Each Tear’. Leona Lewis’s ‘Bleeding Love’ took people back a couple of years while Professor Green’s ‘Just Be Good’ and Usher’s ‘DJ Got Us Falling In Love’ are smack up to date. The show closed with Treysongz ‘Already Taken’.

The lodge gives away a dinner for two with drinks every week. This week the prize was given to the first person to text Richard the Guest’s nationality and as usual there was a good response, showing that after more than a two year run, the show has lost none of its popularity with the local population. Zambezi 107.7 fm has a range of about 65 kms, touching as far as Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe and Kasane in Botswana.

Our Guest praised the staff at the lodge on air, which was good news, and the radio show has proved excellent for staff morale. We often wonder what the Chanters Girls get up to while they’re listening to the programme at the lodge! Dancing? We guess so! The staff love to hear their names mentioned weekly and feel proud that the lodge is recognised on radio.

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Africa, Botswana, Chanters, guests, livingstone, music, radioshow, reviews, Zambia, Zimbabwe

“Dollarisation”

Well, I don’t agree with the bankers that we should stop quoting in US$! Imagine if we were to start quoting in Kwacha on our website! It’s hard enough for tourists to get their head around the Kwacha value to the US$ when they arrive, never mind trying to work it out before they’ve even booked. The bankers should think again. Mrs Melu is however right that the cost of doing business in Zambia remains high – check the cost of fuel and electricity for starters! This from Lusaka Times.

“The Bankers Association of Zambia (BAZ) is lobbying regulators to put in place a law that will deter businesses from quoting in United States (US) dollars as the tendency increases transaction costs. BAZ vice chairperson Mizinga Melu said dollarisation is also a serious issue since it increases costs of doing business in Zambia.

“Dollarisation is an issue because quoting in dollars translates in cost of doing business. We are lobbying the regulators to put a law to stop quoting in dollars,” she said. Mrs Melu, who is also Standard Chartered Bank managing director, was answering a question on what the financial market was doing on dollarisation during the bank’s second quarter performance media briefing in Lusaka yesterday.

Recently, the Bank of Zambia (BoZ) conducted a survey whose findings were outlined in a publication entitled ‘Issues on the Zambian Economy’. The findings noted that the Zambian economy has been highly dollarised. BoZ recommended the introduction of measures to cushion commercial banks from some of the effects of dollarisation.

According to the study findings, the major contributing factor to dollarisation is volatility in the exchange rates and the high levels of inflation. The study also found that dollarisation has also arisen due to uncertainty about donor inflows and balance of payment support. Mrs Melu, however, said there is need to develop infrastructure as it has been identified as a major contributing factor to the cost of doing business. “The cost of doing business remains high. It is important to continue to develop infrastructure, hence diversification in other sectors thereby create jobs.”

On the recent fraud activities that affected some banks, Mrs Melu said although confidence has been affected, the players in the market remain vigilant and those affected were reimbursed. “Although it was a very small quantity of people affected in our market compared to other markets, it is not acceptable but not unusual. We remain vigilant as a bank,” she said. Recently, BAZ issued a notice advising customers to be watchful when using debit cards especially abroad.

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banks, Chanters, rates, Zambia

Kapenta

A firm favourite on the Chanters Lodge menu! We serve Kapenta in 3 different ways. Fresh, shallow fried as a starter. Dried, cooked with onion, tomato and garlic. For both these dishes we use the smaller variety of the fish. Then, we have our new speciality the larger ‘Mpulungu Kapenta’ cooked with groundnuts, onion and tomato and served with Nsima and pumpkin leaves! Mmm! Delicious!

This from Lusaka Times

Kapenta, a type of fish also known as small fresh water sardine, has several chemical compositions that help reduce the risk of various diseases including prostate cancer. Kapenta is a small fresh water sardine that originated from Lake Tanganyika.

Two species are known to exist; the Limnothrissa miodon and the Stolothrisssa Tanganicae. Both these species are planktivorous and pelagic. It has several other names in countries where it is found. A recent chemical composition analysis of kapenta by the National Food and Nutrition Commission (NFNC) shows a great variation in the nutrient composition for the dry and fresh fish.

NFNC principal nutritionist Mr Musonda Mofu says dry kapenta contains 209 calories of food energy compared with 85 calories of food energy in fresh Kapenta. In addition, dry Kapenta contains 63 grammes of protein and only 16 grammes in fresh Kapenta. Overall this shows that, per portion, there are more benefits in dry kapenta than in fresh Kapenta.

The nutrition problems of iron deficiency and vitamin A deficiency can also be addressed by consuming kapenta as it has a high content of these minerals. Overall, 8.5 miligrammes (mg) of iron can be derived from dry Kapenta and 2.1 mg from fresh Kapenta.

In general, Kapenta is a healthy food and very rich in protein. It also has low levels of saturated fat and is a rich source for omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids. As a result of this chemical composition, Kapenta, like other fishes, may reduce the risk of disease including prostate cancer, depending on the frequency of consumption.

Kapenta is also rich in Vitamin B12, which is important in the promotion of cardiovascular well being since it is intricately tied to keeping levels of homocysteine in balance. Homocysteine can damage artery walls and elevated levels could be a risk for atherosclerosis. Allergic reactions can occur from virtually any food. A number of allergic reactions to kapenta have been reported.

Oral allergies in which the mouth itches or tingles after eating kapenta are common in some individuals. Other reactions have been linked to anaphylaxis which is a severe systemic reaction in which the body releases large amounts of histamine. When allergies are observed, it is recommended to see a doctor for assessment and advice.

Kapenta is key on the menus of many Zambians. It can be used to promote protein consumption especially among the poor. Consumption of whole kapenta is also helpful as the intestines of kapenta provide a rich source of micronutrients.

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Chanters, food, menu, Zambia

Chance

Our dog at the lodge – Chance – died last week, which was sad. He was part and parcel of the place. He was much too friendly for guard duty! He had been sick for some time and he was quite old – 7 or 8, we had done the best we could for him with numerous visits to the vet and medication.

He will be missed.

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AUG

Chanters, livingstone, Zambia

George Mukwita – Guest Blog

Here’s George Mukwita’s Guest blog for the week. George, who works under the name of ‘George Soulchild’ co-hosts our weekly radio show which goes out live every Sunday at 20.30 hrs on Zambezi Radio 107.7 fm – ‘imitated but never duplicated’.

ROBERTO.
Local artist Robert Banda AKA Roberto has been nominated for this year’s African music awards in the following categories: best artist Southern Africa, best African new comer, best collaboration with Toniks of Uganda. The Awards are set for the 15th of October 2010. His new song ‘Your Love’ sung in English and Nyanja from his forthcoming album played for the first time on 107.7 Zambezi FM on my breakfast show and we also featured it on the Chanters show just days after its release, its red hot! Something for this coming summer I must add.

DANNY
Danny is labelled as one of the BIG 5 local artists, his new song ”Live” has like all of his songs in the past received criticism in one way or the other. In his new song Danny educates on the importance of consistent and correct use of condoms every time one has sex…In a twisted clever way bringing out the artistic self that he is known for, in the local music industry there are few who can deliver like Danny does. The song is a big hit in the clubs taverns and shabeens it’s also the title track to his new album. We featured it on the Chanters show. Danny has been in the Zambian music industry since 99/2000. His last album didn’t fare so well, now all eyes are on his new project as it promises to do better – guess we just have to wait and see.

MAMPI ROCK’S SESHEKE
Local artist Merriam Mukabe aka Mampi last Friday attracted a very large crowd of Sesheke fans at Goma night club in Katima Mulilo Sesheke, Western Province where she appeared for the first time and delivered a spirited performance that was also meant to introduce some of her new songs from her forthcoming album.

Rumour has it that the Diva has some roots in Sesheke. Therefore it was not surprising that a number of people turned up to witness a daughter coming home. The performance started at 10:30 pm, her stage act was great and it kept the fans screaming for more. After the show she talked about her performance .

“My performance here is one of those usual shows to just help me keep in touch with my fans and let them know what I am working on and that I’m the best when it comes to this because I always aim to give my best. I’m glad I came here – I had no idea how much they love me here. As you may be aware, I am currently working on my new album which hopefully will be released by end of the year. I will be back”

Mampi, whose second and probably most successful album, Chimo ni Chimo was released two years ago says her new project is specifically targeted at introducing her to the international market.

Thanks George!

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blog, Chanters, livingstone, music, Namibia, radioshow, zambezi

Competition

Livingstone is highly competitive these days in the ‘guest house’ field. When we opened Chanters Lodge in 1998 (as Chanters Guest Lodge) there were perhaps 4 other guest houses in the whole town along with two or three hotels and virtually no restaurants. How different is it today!? On Obote Avenue where we are sited, there are at least three guest houses before you reach us, and signs for another half a dozen! Hotels and restaurants are everywhere.

Seth Godin on a recent blog says this about competition:

“1. Competition validates you. It creates a category. It permits the sale to be this or that, not yes or no. And this or that is a much easier sale to make. It also makes decisions about pricing easier, because you have someone to compare against and lean on.

2. There are six billion people in the world. Even if your market is hand-made spoke shaves for left-handed woodworkers, there are more people in your market than you can ever hope to track down.”

The picture? Our new suite as we try to keep up!

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AUG

accommodation, blog, Chanters, livingstone, Zambia

Doctor Trey

Meet Doctor Trey, aka Trevor Ndhlovu, well known Livingstone DJ. Trevor guested on the latest edition of the Chanters Lodge Experience, our popular Sunday night show, that goes out live weekly on Zambezi Radio 107.7 fm at 20.30 hours. It has ‘The Milli Jam Ingredient’ meaning it’s co-hosted by Milimo Mudaala, also a well known Livingstone DJ, and George ‘Soulchild’ a regular host on 107.7 fm who helps with the technical side. It was a good show featuring some of the latest Zambian hits which George will be writing about for the blog later in the week, as well as numbers by Ne-Yo, Eminem and Travis Macoy, ft Bruno Mars, Brandy and Kelly Rowland.

In ‘another life’, Doctor Trey is a driver/salesman for WTC (Wright Trading Company) for whom he’s worked for years. He was the original DJ at Masaka, better known now as Pub and Grill, owned by Glen Wright. Trevor’s less busy than he used to be since WTC gave up their agency for Mosi and Coca Cola. He’s married with 3 boys and was happy to be able to greet his family on air. Doctor Trey’s an ardent Liverpool fan, and had this been known beforehand he might not have featured. Chanters is strictly Arsenal!… There was much speculation on air about the first game of the new season this coming Sunday when these two teams meet at Anfield. Ah! Premier League soccer, again!

Richard was asked if the winner of last week’s prize had turned up and whether it had been a ‘take away’. He confirmed that Gloria, the winner, had come for a lovely private dinner at Chanters’ expense with a handsome young man and had much enjoyed her night out. Nothing like take away! This week’s question asked for Trevor’s DJ name and the prize was quickly snapped up! People get so excited about winning that they forget to give their own names on the text, which then disqualifies them even if the answer’s right!

Trevor was asked about his ambitions for the future and told listeners that he would love to have his own transport business, revealing that his second born son was in the process of learning mechanics for this purpose. Richard greeted family, Guests and staff alike, and George was happy to recount his week in Sesheke (on the Namibian border) with Mwampi, hot Zambian artist. Why hadn’t he brought her back to Livingstone to guest on the show? No adequate response! Oh well…

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Africa, Arsenal, Chanters, football, livingstone, music, radioshow, zambezi, Zambia

Hagenbeek Family on 107.7 fm!

It was a great pleasure to host Nadia, Dinanda, Detlev and Edwin Hagenbeek from Utrecht, Holland on The Chanters Lodge Experience, our Sunday night radio show on Zambezi Radio 107.7 fm last Sunday, and with Milimo (Milli Jam), George (Soulchild) and myself on hand too, the studio was very full – great fun nevertheless! The family photo was taken outside our new offices just before we left for the studio, Nadia left to right!

The Hagenbeek’s had stayed at Chanters Lodge, Livingstone for a few days last week before setting off for the Kafue National Park in the hope of seeing cheetah. They weren’t lucky with that, but had a great time anyway. One of their special moments was an audience with His Excellency the Litunga in Mongu, King or the Paramount Chief of the Lozi people! They also enjoyed a visit to Sioma Falls. The rest of us admitted shamefacedly we’d never been there, but agreed we’d love to!

It was the second of the Hagenbeeks’ trips to Zambia in a short time. They’d been here last year but were suddenly recalled to Holland when Dinanda’s father became very ill and subsequently passed away. We were sorry to hear this sad news. This year the family decided to come back and see what they’d missed in Zambia. I don’t think, though, they’d thought about guesting on the Chanters Lodge Experience! As mentioned The Hagenbeeks are from Utrecht, and Edwin has been responsible for training Zambians nurses in Katete, though this trip they didn’t visit the East. Dinanda also has a health related project on the Copperbelt.

It was nice to talk to Nadia, 14 going on 19, who rocked to the music we played and told listeners she wasn’t yet sure what she wanted to do when she was through College (though Robin van Persie got a mention.) Detlev 10 was nervous because of speaking in English but told listeners that he was very interested in photography and was waiting to see the photos of leopards he’d taken in Kafue! Wish I spoke another language as well as Detlev.

Music? George, I hope, will write up the Zambian content, Milli Jam was into BoB ‘Nothing On You’ again, and I chose ‘Just To Be Good To Be Green’ by Prof Green ft Lilly Allen and ‘Bang Bang Bang’ Mark Ross and The Business. Oh! And we played ‘Love The Way you Lie’. Great track from Rihanna and Eminem which we all loved!

On Monday we put the family on to the Mazhandu Family Bus Service 09.00 hrs service to Lusaka to start the next stage of their adventure, which is a trip from Kapiri Mposhi north of Lusaka, all the way to Dar Es Salaam by train. They have family in Dar and hope to have a rest on those beautiful Tanzanian beaches. It’s unusual for European or American families to take all the surprises that Africa can offer, both good and not so good, with such patience and good grace as Edwin, Dinanda and their great kids do!

On the show we tried, but failed, not to mention Holland not winning the World Cup! We gave away a dinner for two at Chanters to the first listener to text us the Hagenbeeks’ country of origin and we greeted Guests, Staff and Family! The prize was quickly snapped up!

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JUL

accommodation, Africa, Botswana, Chanters, football, livingstone, Tanzania, victoriafalls, World Cup 2010

Lucky Winners!

Last Sunday’s show on Zambezi Radio 107.7 fm -The Chanters Lodge Experience with the Milli Jam Ingredient featuring George Soulchild – was different! Earlier in the week on a blog we mentioned that we presented prizes to the lucky members of staff who had won our World Cup Sweepstake. It was also a chance for me to thank the staff generally for their hard work and loyalty, and believe me we see plenty of examples of that! They are a good team. It was a way for us to celebrate the unexpectedly bad business of the World Cup – sometimes you must celebrate failures to see where you can go next!

We played some pretty hot tracks on the programme – not just in Zambia either ‘Aeroplanes’ by BoB and ‘Love The Way You Lie’ with Eminem and Rihanna though we had to censor the swearing. ‘Our Kind of Love’ by Antebellum and Miriam Lambert’s ‘The House That Built Me’ are latest and my type of thing. ‘Candy’ by Aggro Santos had them hopping. Check them out, those tracks are international chart-toppers!

We thought the prize winners waiting at the back of the studio to be brought forward to get their prizes would dance but it didn’t happen! They all had something to say the listeners though, and all showed and told how much progress they’ve made in their jobs in the past couple of years. Why did most of the prizes go to those in the kitchen? I’m not sure, perhaps God had something to do with that!

Having gotten rid of the World Cup coming on TV at the same time as our radio show, we now have Idols and Big Brother Africa clashing with us, so we’ll still have to fight TV for our audience and we will. We have a feeling that the lodge and restaurant business in Livingstone in the next two years is going to be a fight for market too! We’ll do our best to be right in there!

There’s another nice picture of the winners: Alice, far left 2nd, Aggy next to Alice 1st and Melinda last right 3rd. The others? All winners too!

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Africa, Chanters, livingstone, management, staff, World Cup 2010, Zambia

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