rsa – Chanters Lodge Livingstone

Dave & Hazel Roberts guest on ‘The Experience’

Meet old friends of mine Dave and Hazel Roberts (above), lively guests on the most recent edition of The Chanters Lodge Experience with the Milli Jam Ingredient, featuring George da Soulchild Kaufela. For the uninitiated ‘The Experience’ is our popular Sunday night radio show airing between 20.30 and 21.30 hrs on Zambezi 107.7 fm, Livingstone’s leading local radio station, and streaming live on the internet. Zambezi 107.7 fm studios are situated on the 6th floor of Mosi-o-Tunya House, the large office block in downtown Livingstone opposite Livingstone Museum, and that’s where we go to broadcast our live show every Sunday evening!

The programme is a great mixture of international and local music as well as fascinating conversation with our weekly guests. We give away a dinner for two with drinks at Chanters Lodge every week to the first listener to text us, telling us who’s singing our ‘oldie of the week’. This week the track was Phil Collins’ ‘Do You Remember?’ The prize was quickly snapped up by Mwiinga. We also feature my ‘Pick Of The Week – Tip For The Top’ and my selection on this particular show was JLS with ‘Pieces Of My Heart’ – we’ll see what happens in the charts if and when the track’s released as a single.

Dave and Hazel told listeners this was their third visit to Zambia. They’d stayed in Livingstone from1998 to 2000 when they’d spent two years as volunteers at David Livingstone Teacher Training College, teaching student mathematics teachers. The Roberts’ are both qualified maths teachers, and noted on air that the standard of maths teaching in Zambia had not been very good in the past. They felt they’d contributed a lot to help rectify this situation during their time in Zambia. They’d volunteered through VSO twice more after leaving Zambia, once in Malawi and once in Senegal and they’d also enjoyed both these tours of duty. Their current visit was part of a four week African holiday which had taken them first to South Africa then to Zambia. They were enjoying meeting old friends in Livingstone as well as visiting old haunts like Chanters Lodge, and they told listeners proudly that they’d been two of the very first customers at the lodge when it opened in 1998. “That’s true!” I confirmed.

The music on the show was good, we opened with ‘Hurts Like Heaven’ a track from the brilliant Coldplay album ‘Mylo Xyloto’ back to back with ‘Convertible’ a great new recording from Chris Brown. George chose Exile’s ‘Auwe’ coupled with Ty2 featuring Kaufela with ‘Spotlight’ – this was a special request from Dave and Hazel who demanded to hear some of George’s work. “It’s a great track!” They said. “Of course!” We said. Milimo dropped Bei Maejor’s ‘Fell In Love On The Dance Floor’ and Ne-Yo’s ‘Regardless’. Coldplay’s ‘Paradise’, the current UK number one, closed our show.

Dave and Hazel told listeners they were from UK and that they had two adult children as well as two young grandchildren. Although neither of them were from that part of Britain they were currently living near Wakefield, West Yorkshire in order to be near their grandchildren. They’d been married for 44 years, having met in 1966 at a meeting for maths teachers in Germany. “Was it love at first sight?” Milli Jam wanted to know. “No!” Quipped Dave in his Welsh accent (for he is of that race) “it was maths at first sight!”. We laughed. This lovely, loving couple wished they had more time to spend in Zambia but sadly would be driving to Lusaka the following Tuesday and flying back to UK two days after that.

We wished them well and ‘bon voyage’, thanked them for taking the time to appear on our show, and hoped we’d see them back in Livingstone again one of these fine days!

11
JAN

Africa, Chanters, education, entertainment, Germany, guests, livingstone, Malawi, music, radioshow, rsa, travel, volunteers, Wales, Zambia

Evans Kangwa Is Hot!

No surprise that Evans Kangwa is hot property, anyone who watched the recent COSAFA Under 20’s tournament (won by Zambia) will have been most impressed by his talent, including his great thunderbolt goal in the final. This yesterday, therefore, on StarAfrica.com comes as no surprise.

“Zambian side Nkana FC have temporarily iced the transfer of striker Evans Kangwa to South African club Orlando Pirates due to the latter’s mode of payment for the transfer fee. The teenage striker cost the South African champions $70,000 but their payment terms has placed the move in a balance.

According to officials of Nkana FC, the ‘Bucs’ were prepared to part with $40,000 with the remainder being cleared over a period of two years. “We have misgivings with the Pirates offer to pay the transfer fee in instalments. This is why we have insisted that the deal is not yet finalised,” Ken Mwanza, vice Chairman of Nkana FC was quoted by local media.

They have subsequently informed their South African counterparts to revise their payment plan for the services of the player. Orlando Pirates beat rivals SuperSport United to the signature of the striker following his spectacular performance at the recently held COSAFA U-20 Championship in Botswana where he was adjudged the top scorer and most valuable player.”

22
DEC

Africa, football, rsa, Zambia

Consumer Diaries

Here’s a good website for consumers in Zambia having a hard time at the moment! Consumer Diaries, written by Zambian consumers for Zambian consumers. The latest post involves the suspension of the air service permit for Zambezi Airlines by government – no great surprise there – they’ve been in a shambles for weeks with delayed and cancelled flights. Yesterday there were about 15 stranded travellers at Harry M Nkumbula International Airport in Livingstone, negotiating seats on other airlines flying to South Africa.

We hope Consumer Diaries will soon turn their attention to Zambia Breweries and the constant annual shortages of beer and soft drinks in Livingstone and other parts of Zambia through October and November – not alright in the nominated (should that be nominal?) ‘tourist capital’.

And what about Zesco? Most Zambian consumers thought that one of the first impacts of the new government would be restoration of constant power supplies – not so – even though the President did fire the Zesco MD nothing has changed there! Just as well we have a good stand by generator at Chanters Lodge!

“The Consumer Diaries is a Zambian consumer’s mouthpiece written strictly by consumers for other consumers. It contains a compilation of reviews and comparisons of consumer products and services based on reporting and results from consumers themselves. This is done in order to help people have an opportunity to rate product/service experiences that they have had, and also to investigate new products or services in order to make informed decisions.”

Wish them the best of luck!

The picture? A bottle of Zambia’s great Mosi beer – currently unavailable from distributors in Livingstone, Zambia.

31
OCT

Africa, airlines, Consumers, development, Economy, electricity, energy, guests, infrastructure, livingstone, management, politics, rsa, transport, travel, Zambia

A Family Affair

The Chanters Lodge Experience – our weekly Sunday night radio show broadcasting at 20.30 hrs on Zambezi 107.7 fm, Livingstone’s leading local radio station – was very much a family affair last Sunday! Why? Well two of the guests were Chanters – Mike (standing) and Alexandra (right) in the photo above – they were accompanied by their friend Cleo Kashimba. We had a lot of fun on the show! Mike, Alex and Cleo have been staying at Chanters in Livingstone for a few days – visiting after a long time away.

Mike, who raps under the name of ‘Liquid Danger’ told listeners that he’s still trying to make his way on the music scene in Lusaka and has recorded about 10 tracks with FlyBy Studios. He hopes to be able to release his first album soon, meanwhile he manages to perform shows in Lusaka most weekends. We featured one of his tracks called ‘Ngwila Mic’. When I asked what the words meant (it’s performed mostly in vernacular) the assembled company, including Milli Jam and George da Soulchild, co-hosts of the show, all looked at each other and smirked saying very little! Just imagine! I had to……..

“How did you meet these people“? Milli Jam asked Cleo. “I met Mike at FlyBy Studios in Lusaka” she replied “and Alexandra cos she’s Mike’s sister”. “Are you also a musician”? Milli Jam wanted to know. Cleo replied that she was and that she had recorded three songs in her one and a half years on the Lusaka music scene. We dropped one of her tracks ‘Manzi Na Pompey’ and all agreed that she has a great voice (and looks for that matter). She told listeners that she would like to go back to school soon to study law, while still furthering her musical career. “Are you married”? Milli Jam predictably wanted to know. Cleo giggled. “In a relationship”? He persisted. “It’s complicated”! She replied. “Facebook status” said Milli Jam.

Milli Jam asked Alex how long she’d been back in Zambia and what she was doing and she told listeners she’d been home since July and that she was on something of a gap year, having completed the South African equivalent of Grade 12 in 2010. She hoped to study journalism in the future with a view to working in the media and/or fashion. “Did you know Alex has also recorded a track”? Mike asked. We didn’t, Alex explained that the song was performed in Zulu (translated as ‘Lose Your Mind’), in which she was fluent.

The music on the show was good. We played ‘Princess of China’ by Coldplay ft Rihanna, back to back with Akon’s ‘Conspiracy’ at the top of the show. After Mike and Cleo’s tracks Milimo featured ‘You’re The Boss’ a great number from Rick Ross featuring Nicki Minaj coupled with ‘Loving You No More’ by Dirty Money featuring Drake. Our oldie of the week was Westlife’s ‘Flying Without Wings’ – an easy track for listeners to guess who the performing artists were. We ask this question every week and the first listener to text us the right answer wins a dinner for two with drinks at Chanters lodge. The prize was quickly won.

The show was interrupted by Charles Chulu, Station Manager of Zambezi fm (wearing a Man U shirt and a sad look 1-6) who proceeded, to my surprise, to present me with a framed certificate from the station for the ‘Most Innovative Contribution Award’. Nice – one assumes the cash will follow behind!! Seriously I was touched and grateful.

Alex told listeners her favourite musicians at the moment were Nicki Minaj, Adele and Corinne Bailey Rae, Mike was into Lil Wayne. Cleo opted for Rihanna and a local artist Mampi.

The guys had not had much time for activities while they’d been in Livingstone but they had featured on Muja Blaze’s show on Zambezi fm the previous day, and were lined up to play at Zambezi Sun the following day. They’d also done some clubbing. The three hoped to be able to take a walk with lions and cheetah’s before returning to Lusaka. Asked about where they would like to be and what they would like to be doing ten years from now, Cleo said ‘settled and successful around the world’, Mike ‘still on top and rich’ while Alex replied ‘married with two children, working, successful and independent’. Nice!

25
OCT

accommodation, activities, Chanters, children, entertainment, family, livingstone, Lusaka, music, radioshow, rsa, Zambia

Vote For C.R.I.$.I.$!

Zambia’s International Hip-Hop artist, C.R.I.$.I.$ has been nominated for the Channel-O video music Awards for MOST GIFTED AFRICAN SOUTHERN VIDEO. The show will be aired on DSTV Channel 320 for everybody in the African Continent. Vote for C.R.I.$.I.$ on here http://channelo.dstv.com/artist/c-r-i-i/

C.R.I.$.I.$. started rapping at age 10 after hearing music by Grandmaster Flash and The Furious, NWA, Kool G. Rap, RUN DMC, Boogie Down Productions, Michael Jackson and Pink Floyd. It’s hard to get a brief biography from this man due to a great number of achievements under his belt.

He is currently working on his fourth album titled ‘B.I.G (Business is Good).’ The album is an addition to a bigger business structure and transformation that the artist is undergoing. This is his most anticipated album since he released the first Zambian Hip-Hop album, ‘Office in Charge’ in January 2005.

A role model and a natural born leader, C.R.I.$.I.$ has for many years strived for perfection in everything that he puts his mind to- all while playing a vital role in his community. 2011 started off with a bang, as his new single ‘The Fire Inside’ took the number one spot across the African continent on the Channel O African Video charts. In February he walked off with a BEFFTA (Black Entertainment Film Fashion Television Arts Awards) for Best International Act, beating out musicians such as Sade, 2 Face, Ali Kiba, M.I. and Fally Ipupa.

1
SEP

2011, Africa, awards, entertainment, music, rsa, Zambia

ZoneFam Up For An Award!

Zone Fam’s “Mbama” video is up for a channel O Award in the Most Gifted Newcomer category reports George Kaufela.

Zone Fam’s Brand New Music Video “Mbama” Premiered on Channel O’s “O Express” on the 24th of July 2011. “Mbama” is the latest single off Zone Fam’s soon to be released album “The Business (Foreign Exchange)” – it is also one of the songs that the group performed on the Big Brother Amplified Stage on the 3rd of July 2011; and was well received by viewers. This is the first time the group has been nominated and we hope they win.

Zone Fam is the Premiere Hip Hop Group in Zambia. Deriving their name from a studio they frequented in their earlier days ‘The Zone’. The main group consists of four individuals; Dope G, Jay Rox, Yung Verbal and Thugga. The group was formed in 2007 and is managed by Duncan Sodala CEO of Slam Dunk Records, Zambia.

28
AUG

Africa, art, awards, entertainment, music, rsa, Zambia

Laura Goble & Carla Roberts Have Impact on 107.7fm

Meet Laura Goble (left) and Carla Roberts pictured above, project and volunteer co-ordinators respectively with African Impact in Zambia, an organization with over 5 years experience facilitating quality volunteer programmes they are the African specialists in volunteering. These two pretty, funny, lively, vivacious young ladies represented the organization brilliantly on the latest edition of the Chanters Lodge Experience with the Milli Jam Ingredient featuring George da Soulchild, our regular Sunday night radio show airing live on Zambezi 107.7 fm at 18.30 hrs GMT and now streaming live on the internet. We had proof that the streaming is normal, receiving messages from England and Scotland while we were on air. Very excited about that we were too! Thanks to Edward Chanter and Isaac Mwanza 107.7 fm is now available on the Chanters Lodge website too! Scroll to Radio Show on our site!

Laura comes from South Africa while Carla hails from Ireland, we discovered as Milli Jam started to interview the girls. They explained to listeners that at the moment African Impact has 20 volunteers in Livingstone, all staying at Livingstone Backpackers and involved variously in education and health projects. We were told that the majority of the volunteers came from UK but also from other European countries such as Holland and Germany. Milli Jam seemed taken aback that Laura and Carla were not staying at Chanters Lodge – “how did you meet Richard then?” He wanted to know. “We met him at the airport while we were all waiting for clients” the girls explained. “Are you in the habit of picking up old men at airports?” The clearly envious Milli Jam continued. “Only if they’re good looking like Richard!” was the wonderful reply. (Flattery will get you dinner for 2 at Chanters Lodge! Lol!)

The music on the show was a great mixture. The girls requested Flavor’s track ‘Sawa Sawa’ a smash hit in Zambia for the Nigerian star, which they dedicated to all the African Impact and Livingstone Backpackers staff, as well as volunteers listening to the show. Before that track we’d opened with ‘She Makes Me Wanna’ by JLS featuring Dev, the current UK number one, back to back with Ester Dean featuring Chris Brown and ‘Drop It Low’. More African tracks were Dandy Krazy with ‘Donchi Kubeba’ and Ty2 ft Kaufela with ‘Spotlight’. We played Ice Prince ‘Oleku’ as well. Oldie of the week was the late Akim Simukonda’s haunting ‘Bana Bandi’ (‘don’t hate each other when I’m gone’ his advice to his many children recorded just before he died). We asked for the name of the artist singing Bana Bandi by text to win a prize of dinner for 2 at Chanters Lodge with drinks and the prize was quickly snapped up!

The girls told listeners they’d done loads of the activities available for tourists – everything from elephant riding to the zip line, excluding bungee! That very day they’d returned from a weekend on Bovu Island which they’d loved. “It used to be famous for fun and games” I commented. The girls just giggled. Enough said.

“Are you married?” Asked Milli Jam. “No” the girls replied. “Boyfriends?” Milli Jam persisted. “No” replied the girls. “George!” said Milli Jam as we laughed. Asked about their musical tastes, Carla surprised us ‘Aqua’ she said. “What!?” I exclaimed “Barbie Doll Aqua?” “Yes” said Carla. I was stunned. ‘Pink’ said Laura much more understandably. Milli Jam closed with the usual question of where the girls would like to be and what they’d like to be doing 10 years from now but the answer didn’t go much further than “errr Africa”.

Good show this one!

12
AUG

accommodation, activities, Africa, Chanters, Customers, education, entertainment, livingstone, radioshow, rsa, training, volunteers, website, zambezi

Kim Musonda – BBA Amplified

Thanks to George da Soulchild for this piece:

Kimberley Musonda, Zambia’s last housemate in the ongoing Big Brother Amplified, was evicted from the show last Sunday, just one week before the show’s finale. The Livingstone-based beautician in a phone interview on Monday, Kim, 26, shared her experience on the continental show. Here are some excerpts:

How would you describe your twelve weeks in the Big Brother Amplified house?

I loved each and every moment of it. I’m glad I went this far, I’m glad I had so much fun, and I’m glad I was there. I’m glad I was so real with myself. I’m glad I was in there, it was a very good experience, nothing I would exchange for anything else in the world. It was a rare experience that I’m going to treasure for the rest of my life.

What are your most memorable moments?

I like the fact that I could break down and cry and not feel bad about it. That’s the kind of person I am. When I want to cry, I want to cry. I liked that I could live relaxed, I liked that I was given the space and privacy to do that in front of 52 cameras. I can’t really pick one moment; it’s been a series of moments.

So what did you personally gained from being on this show? What lessons have you learnt?

I’ve learnt that basically I’m not a mean person…I’m a very jovial person, as you saw by my highlights. I really liked my laughing and crying. What Ive learnt about myself is that basically I can stand up for myself, and I don’t give myself as much credit as I should. I’m really a confident person, and I really am ready to face the world.

What would you say about your relationships with Kenyan housemate Nic (Wangondu) and Lomwe during your stay in the house?

Nic and I had a good thing going on. We’re good friends, we’re getting to know each other.

Unfortunately things didn’t work out the way I would have thought it would. It’s something I treasured. He was a good person, and I really was fond of him. (But) I don’t think we’re going to do anything furthermore, seeing that we removed our feelings for each other. And Lomwe is an interesting person.

I’m a lucky person. I came into the house single, and I was given an opportunity to meet new people. I think that was a rare moment. Lomwe is a kind and loving person, and I really like him. I’m not going to comment on what can or cannot be because in the end, he’ll come into the real world. He has to go back to Malawi, I’ll be based in Zambia, so we’ll just wait and see.

Are you concerned about how people in Zambia will view the way you carried yourself in the house concerning your conduct in the same relationships?

Going into the house, reserved or not reserved, from a Christian background or not from a Christian background, I opened my life to continental viewership, and the decision I made looking at every other aspect of my life. When I opened my life to everybody else, I opened it all the way because that was 24/7. There wasn’t any editing going on, so everything that happened to me was the reality of my life.

I respect people’s opinions; each one is entitled to their opinion as long as it is not hindering to the other person’s feelings. That was my life and I’m sorry if it wasn’t the other person’s view of how I should live my life in the house. In the end, sorry guys, this was about Kim, so everybody is entitled to their opinion. I’ve learnt from that experience, and I would like to know what people thought, negative or positive, I’m really just Kim and I love you Zambia.

What went through your mind when you were called up for eviction considering that you had come this far in the show?

When we were still auditioning for the show, I decided not to worry about what the next stage was going to be, just like I never worry about my next step will be in life. I strongly believe in the Bible were it says, “don’t worry about your tomorrow.” So I dwelt with that from week one; coming into the house I didn’t think I was a housemate. When Big Brother said we were not housemates we were still auditioning, that was like a door for me. From that day I decided to live my life each day at a time.

When I wake up I don’t think of what is going to happen tomorrow, so I’m glad I did that because every other nomination I went to, I was ready to follow any path that God led me into. So for me I was ready to do what God wants me to do. That’s why when they called my name…I was more worried about my hair not being messed by people who were hugging me than my name being called. So I was ready for whatever God wanted me to go to. I’m always ready to go do life as God would want me to go do it.

In the early weeks of the show, you told some of your housemates that you had authored some books? Have any books been published and where can one find them?

I said I wrote three books. I can’t give you the titles right now. I can’t talk about them very much because they are still in the process so we’ll just have to wait. Right now I’m dealing with everything else from Big Brother.

What are your future plans?

My future plans are to work on my career as much as possible in all aspects of my requirements. I have a lot of things to take care of; I would like to further my education. I would like to open my own range of beauty products. I would like to continue my writing and finally publish some of my works. I’m just gonna concentrate on that, and hopefully things will work out.

10
AUG

Africa, entertainment, livingstone, rsa, Zambia

Gayle-Anne Drury on The Chanters Lodge Experience

There were some technical issues on the latest edition of the Chanters Lodge Experience with The Milli Jam Ingredient featuring George da Soulchild – partly I guess because George wasn’t around this week – wearing his rapper hat George aka ‘Kaufela’ had gone to Lusaka to try and speed up the release of his forthcoming album. However it was a good show and our Guest Gayle-Anne Drury, pictured above, was a lively and interesting Guest. Our programme goes out on Zambezi 107.7 fm radio in Livingstone and streams live on the internet every Sunday night at 18.30 hrs GMT, 20.30 hrs Zambian time.

Gayle-Anne, a psycho therapist was staying at Chanters Lodge. She runs an organization in York called Baobab Centre.”The Baobab Centre provides one-to-one support through counselling, coaching and mentoring, training and consultancy to individuals and organisations. They provide the knowledge and understanding which underpins relational management and offer care, expertise, tools and strategies to individuals, teams and organisations to help maximise potential growth and development” Gayle-Anne told listeners.

Her visit to Zambia was to assist Tujatane School in Livingstone on a voluntary basis by way of training their teachers and teaching assistants to counsel, coach, mentor and build relationships. She stressed to listeners the importance of ‘listening’ to build relationships. “Yes” I said “and they should jolly well listen to the Chanters Lodge Experience every Sunday night too”! We moved on. How long had Gayle-Anne been married, Milli Jam asked. “A very, very, very long time!” She replied and refused to divulge further details! She told us of her son Adam 26 and daughter Ruth 24 living in London and doing well.

The music on the show was fine as usual apart from ‘I Wanna Go’ by Britney Spears that refused to play for some reason – perhaps she really did ‘wanna go’! Our Zambian tracks were ‘Manone’ by Chika and the catchy ‘Wa Overtime’ by Salma. “Salma’s telling her audience that she doesn’t want one night stands but something longer term” explained Milli Jam – I thought perhaps the lyrics were deeper than this, but no further explanation was forthcoming! The very latest releases from Example – ‘Stay Awake’ and Akon ‘Keep Up’ went down well, so too did Nicole Scherzinger’s ‘Right There’ and the worldwide Pitbull/Ne-Yo smash ‘Give Me Everything Tonight’ – the latter had the Chanters Girls singing along at the lodge, so I’m told!

Gayle-Anne told listeners she’d had no time for tourist acitvities while she’d been in Livingstone due to pressure of work. She further revealed that she’d actually been born in Zambia and had undergone most of her primary education here before moving to South Africa then UK. She told us she’d very much enjoyed a visit to Simonga Village the previous day where she’d been invited by friends.

We thanked the staff at the lodge for their very hard and excellent work during the first 10 days of July and gave away the usual dinner for 2 at Chanters Lodge to the first person to text us Gayle-Anne’s country of residence. The response was excellent! Delvick won.

12
JUL

activities, Africa, charities, education, entertainment, entrepreneurship, guests, innovation, music, People, radioshow, rsa, uk, Zambia

The Chanters Lodge Experience

As you may know we have a weekly radio programme on Zambezi FM local radio in Livingstone every Sunday night between 20.30 and 21.30 hrs. (Zambian time). You can now listen live, just click that link and go to ‘listen live’.

Anyway, every Sunday night we give a dinner for two to the first person to text us the answer to a simple question – usually we ask which country our guests come from – we have a guest on every show, which is a lively mixture of hit pop music, local and international, and chat.

This photo was taken by Rein Coppens when he and his wife Jeannetta featured on the show and pictures me deciding who’d won!

Thanks Rein!

30
JUN

Africa, awards, Chanters, entertainment, guests, rsa, Zambia

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