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!

0