Lusaka – Chanters Lodge Livingstone

Slap Dee In Trouble

Hip-hop artiste Slap-Dee was recently briefly detained at Livingstone Central Police Station for allegedly not honouring his contractual obligations with Royal Entertainments who had hired him to perform at Mukuni Park. The 25-year old rapper, real name Mwila Musonda, was initially charged with obtaining money by force pretenses.

Police spokesperson Ndandula Siamana confirmed the brief detention of Slap-D and said he was released after he repaid K1 million. “Yes I can confirm that he (Slap-Dee) was at the Central Police Station in Livingstone. He had a financial problem with another group but he was released after he refunded the money,” Siamana said. And in an interview outside the police station on Saturday, Royal Entertainment director Kenova Kaapa said Slap-Dee had signed a contract with the firm in Lusaka last month, and was paid K1 million, with the balance being agreed to be paid after the Livingstone show.

“We sent Timmy Kayombo and Emmanuel Mungala to follow up Slap-Dee in May and after consultations he signed the contract on (May) 27th. We then proceeded to buy air time on the two radio stations for adverts but we got suspicious when we heard adverts by Coca-Cola advertising a sports function at Maramba Stadium at which Slap-D was to perform,” Kaapa said.

He said that according to the contract, Royal Entertainment was to accommodate and feed the artiste, which was done at Liseli Guest House. “He gave us three T-shirts and that he was to launch his XYZ Nomba Ninshi album. But when Coca-Cola adverts persisted, I decided to call him and he said he was a musician who can even perform 12 shows and he boasted that Coca-Cola had even paid him twice what we paid,” Kaapa said.

He said on Saturday, Livingstone youths converged at Mukuni Park and Slap-Dee did not turn up but called after 16 hours when he was scheduled to have performed from morning up to 18 hours. “So we reported the matter to police who went to Maramba Staduim and ordered that he reports to the police which he did at 19:00 hours,” Kaapa said. The contract, signed by Slap-Dee and Mungala, stated that during the agreement both parties would not engage directly or indirectly in any other business as an employee, employer, consultant and director without prior written notice.

“Failure to meet these duties by both parties shall be deemed as breach of contract and shall attract a fine agreed upon by each party and professional arbitrators,” the contract read in part.

Kaapa said Royal Entertainment is seeking compensation of K20 million from Slap-Dee.

26
JUN

Africa, entertainment, livingstone, Lusaka, money, music, victoriafalls, Zambia

Kay & The Lusaka Scene

George da Soulchild reports:

Kayula Bwalya aka Kay (above), Chika Lupupa and B1 recently tripled the fun when they launched the weekly music performances at the newly-opened East Point Disco in Lusaka’s Kabwata area. And J-Kayo Records owned by artistes JK and Kayombo have announced three album releases including Kay’s debut Kanyelele, Marcky2’s Ndimupondo and a DVD music video collection featuring some of the country’s hottest songs under Digital X.

The three budding artistes who were selected to perform at the venue that so far seems to be attracting a huge patronage, delivered their skills accordingly to win more future shows. Chika Lupupa, who recently returned from performances in Malawi and South Africa promoting his debut album served as a curtain-raiser with his now-slowly fading hit, Lupupa Lupupa and his new anthem Tenzeokondana ( Chanibaba) gaining more feedback.

His dance skills were a marvel to watch and remain as amazing as the time he was under Mozegator’s Mimbulu Boys, some of whom were present to boost his act. Before B1 closed the business, Kay took to the stage and showcased her trade mark dance routine with three of her dancing queens that left the audience asking for more. Her unique display of spirited dance moves were as daring as her music which was summerised in the songs, Kanyelele, Cha cilamo and Wandowa.

B1 offloaded tracks like Chipute, Pillow, Mai Junior, Kalata and Pastor to conclude the birth of a new weekend outing for music shows which East Point director described as,” the beginning new era in entertainment.”

Meanwhile J-Kayo spokesperson Maurice’ Raydo’ Malowa has said he is happy with the support people have extended on Kay’s first project and urged them to buy original music now that the album is out in stores. “I can now confirm that J-Kayo have finally dispatched three products on the market and this includes Kay’s Kanyelele. We have had a lot of support for Kay and I am happy to announce that her music is out on the market.,” said Raydo adding that Marcky II’s Ndimupondo is also ready for sale and receiving a lot support.

” We urge people to buy original products and support the industry. This way, we will help these young artistes get their reward.” concluded Raydo.

16
JUN

entertainment, Lusaka, music, Zambia

Dr Marja Hinfelaar on 107.7 fm

Meet Marja Hinfelaar, pictured above with family friend Frobert Van Zijl (no, that’s not a typo, his name is Frobert!). Marja, an Historian with National Archives of Zambia and a regular Guest at Chanters Lodge, Livingstone, was in town with Frobert, his wife Karyn and their two boys for a weekend visit, so naturally we invited her to guest on The Chanters Lodge Experience with the Milli Jam Ingredient featuring George da Soulchild!

For the uninitiated that’s our weekly Sunday night radio show airing between 20.30 and 21.30 hours on Zambezi 107.7fm, Livingstone’s leading local radio station broadcasting in a range of 70kms around Southern Province, taking in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe and the Botswana border as well. The show’s a great mixture of music and chat also featuring international and local chart news, as well as stories from Lodgeblog and a regular prize of a dinner for 2 with drinks at Chanters Lodge, ensuring the show’s popularity in town and around!

Marja told listeners that she’s a Dutch national and had been in Zambia since 1997 but in fact her first visit to this country was in 1990 when her uncle was a catholic priest in Lusaka. She has a Phd in African History from University of Utrecht in the Netherlands. (“Dr Hinfelaar? We hadn’t been told!” I offered). Milli Jam asked Marja about her work with the Livingstone Museum and she told listeners that the museum’s clock tower was now open as an additional gallery. Her new project would involve digitally recording all the highly valuable 19th Century documents including David Livingstone’s letters so that the originals could be removed to safe storage, meaning visitors would still able to peruse the records on computer. This would entail Marja resuming her regular monthly visits to Livingstone. This made us happy!

The music on the show was great. We opened with Enrique Iglesias featuring Usher, Lil Wayne and Nayer and their smash hit ‘Dirty Dancer’ which we played back to back with Gyptian’s latest ‘Let Me In’. Our Zambian tracks plugged Slap Dee’s ‘I Wanna Lose Myself’ coupled with XBoy’s ‘Malita’. (XBoy’s from Livingstone and a regular listener to the show). Milli Jam chose ‘Take Off’ by Chipmunk featuring TreySongz and Bobby V’s ‘Altered Ego’ featuring 50 Cent. Wow! We moved on to Beyonce’s latest ‘Best Thing I Never Had’ back to back with Akon’s ‘Can You Believe’ and closed with Alexandra Stan’s ‘Mr Saxobeat’. All the hits!

We asked Marja and Frobert about their activities while they’d been in Livingstone and Marja told listeners that Frobert and his family had enjoyed their one day safari to Chobe. She hadn’t accompanied them as she didn’t care much for elephants! However, she’d joined them for a game drive in Mosi-o-Tunya National Park and the whole family were delighted that they’d been able to get up really close to the rhino. Of course they’d been to see Victoria Falls and got drenched in the process – as you do at this time of year!

Marja told listeners about a new journal called The Bulletin and The Record published monthly in Lusaka of which she’s an editor and which takes an in-depth look at topical Zambian issues. When asked about her private life she told us she was ‘separated but dating’. ‘Fair enough’ we said! She told listeners that they’d travelled from Lusaka by Proflight on Friday and that the plane had been exactly on time. They were leaving the next day with the same airline.

We gave listeners the chart and blog news, greeted guests and staff at the lodge and gave away a dinner for two to the first person to text us Marja’s country of origin. Good response! Great show!

8
JUN

accommodation, activities, Africa, airlines, Botswana, Chanters, Chobe, entertainment, Holland, livingstone, Lusaka, music, radioshow, victoriafalls, wildlife, Zambia

Dalisoul

George da Soulchild contributes:

Not long ago, he said albums were not beneficial and only singles will be heard from him. Today, ‘Mwana wa Mukomboni,’ Dalisoul has changed his mind. In an interview with Times Entertainment Dalisoul said after making that decision fans cried out loud, whenever he was performing, for him to rescind that decision not to compile an album again and give them something that they can listen to in their own time, in this case a collection of his music.

The Musunge Mushe (A.T.M) star said he had no choice but to listen to his fans from the shanties because they are the ones that have made him to be where he is today and it was his duty to honour their wishes. “I made that decision not to release my second album based on my dissatisfaction with the earnings that I got from my first one Shansha and now that my fans want another one and are ready to support me, I will give them another chance” he said.

Dalisoul said that this time around, Supershine, the marketers and distributers of CDs and DVDs, had done their homework and he is happy with the new deal. Supershine has started manufacturing glass covers in order to curb the high levels of piracy, and Dalisoul is happy with the development.

Mukomboni is the new album from Dalisoul and it is out on the streets and contains unheard tracks like Vomela and Mwiko which features Rich Bizz. Vomela encourages people living with HIV to accept their status and that by doing so they will enhance the chances of living longer with the virus.

Other tracks on the album are the old Nalila (condom), Chipyango and Shansha, which appears as a bonus track. It’s a nine-track album and features JK, Petersen, Karasa, Shyman and Bob Muli.

4
JUN

Africa, entertainment, Lusaka, music, Zambia

Roberto

George da Soulchild reports on one of Zambia’s singing sensations – Roberto.

Local disc-jockey cum musician Robert Banda aka Roberto’s music appeal seems to be taking an international route as his latest single ‘Love You More’, set with a Nigerian-influenced tone continues to gain recognition locally and beyond borders. Roberto launched his singing career after his brother Ozzy in the early 2000s with songs such as Operator, Akasuba, These Words and Save our love.

Speaking prior to his performance at the Pulse Nightclub in Lusaka last Saturday, Roberto said he is focusing on the international platform to put Zambian music on the map. “I think music in Zambia has reached a level where we can take it outside and personally, I have been working hard to achieve that. You are aware that I belong to an African duo called UZ47 which features Uganda’s Tonix. For me this is a good experience and I have told myself that if I have to do music now, I should not just focus on Zambia but go beyond and that’s how ‘Love you more’ came about,” he says. “The whole purpose is to promote an international appeal in the region and outside the continent.”

He adds that he is almost ready with his latest project which he claims has done well in promos so far. Love You More has really impressed me and I am happy it is doing well on the local charts across the radio stations and in other countries. People are loving it and it gives me hope they will enjoy the album,” says Roberto who has apart from collaborating with artistes such as Manus, Willy Ginx, Ozzy and Slap Dee has also shown his production strength through the Brothahood Music label where he produced Love You More.

By press time the song was at number one at Breeze FM in Chipata and has remained unbeaten on the QFM Heavy Rotation. It is also on the countdown on Namibia’s Base FM, Uganda’s Kira station as well as Ghana’s YFM. Its video also continues to perform well. And his performance at the Pulse was lively despite recording a lower attendance than usual, and it was ‘Love You More’ that drew repeated requests at a show that was also supported by several upcoming artistes.

26
MAY

Africa, entertainment, Lusaka, music, radioshow, Zambia

Maya

George da Soulchild, co-presenter of our Sunday night radio show reports:

She may be one of the most sought-after upcoming female singer and rapper on the local music scene, but Cynthia Chalwe is very down to earth – the 24-year-old popularly known as ‘Maya’ shot to fame early last year, after releasing a single entitled, ‘Life Yama Diva’, under the XYZ recording label.

A law student at the National Institute of Public Administration (NIPA), she relates that although some sections of society have shown misgivings about her alliance with a male-dominated, youthful recording label, she rates herself among the most principled youngsters. “It has not been easy, I have been faced with too many challenges as a female musician. Everywhere I go for shows, people think that I am bitching around, but I really believe in myself, I am hard working….a goal-getter, someone who has self-control and is principled,” she says.

Maya explains that through her good conduct, she has continued to be a role model to many young people. “I am here to inspire a lot of young people. Equally, my dad Sam Chalwe at first had some reservations about me taking up music as a career. He used to tell me that singing will not take me anywhere, but by my good conduct I have managed to convince him and he believes in me,” she insists.

Maya notes that through her association with the XYZ crew, comprising rappers Slap Dee, Ruff Kid and Lloyd among others, has made her fans identify her as the official XYZ first lady. “I am part of XYZ crew, after all I am the official XYZ first lady although people may say I’m dating Slap Dee. I’m very comfortable about it. He has been very supportive to me and actually he is my producer and manager,” says Maya, who is committed to someone she declined to mention.

The singer and rapper says she has been receiving considerable support from her fans, since she joined the industry last year. “I receive a lot of messages from all my fans including kids. It’s so amazing. I have traveled to different places in the country. Sometimes kids run to me whenever I am passing to tell me that they want me to be their playing mum and I accept the request because I love mingling with kids. I have no problems taking photos with them,” says Maya, a devoted Christian belonging to Christian Mission in Main Lands.

Maya’s music career can be traced way back at school when she used to sing in a school choir. “I remember the first time I knew I could sing was when I was 13-years-old in grade eight at St. Mary’s Secondary School. My family is very supportive of my singing career too,” says Maya, a second born in the family of four.

Maya who draws her inspiration from the late local musician Lily T, American-based singers Beyonce, Rihanna, Kelly Hilson, Whitney and Nick Minaj among others says her passion for education has compelled her to set-up a youth organisation called ‘Xample Yama Diva’ (XYD), stating that the organization is aimed at promoting girl-child education in the country. “I am the CEO Chief executive officer of Xample Yama Diva and through this organization we are encouraging more girls out there to realise their potential and work hard in school. Girls should believe in themselves, because everything is possible if they do that and they should put God first in all they do,” Maya says.

Her album could be out this year – be on the look out!

7
APR

Chanters, education, entertainment, Lusaka, marketing, music, radioshow, Zambia

ZMusicTV’s Stephanie Nyirenda on 107.7 fm

Meet the delightful, vivacious Stephanie Nyirenda (pictured above) when she guested on the most recent edition of our regular Sunday night radio show – The Chanters Lodge Experience with the Milli Jam Ingredient featuring George da Soulchild. The show airs live from 20.30-21.30 hrs on Zambezi fm, Livingstone’s popular local radio station broadcasting on
107.7 fm, and is a great combination of music and chat. George gave listeners the good news that the station hopes to be streaming live on the internet within the next few months!

Although the headline says ‘ZMusicTV’s Stephanie Nyirenda’ in fact Steph is still completing an internship with the Zambia Daily Mail as a reporter. Her best story? Stephanie told listeners she was proud of a story she’d written about Zambezi Nkuku, our local chicken farm, who’d been collecting refuse in Livingstone to convert into compost. She didn’t feel her story had got the exposure in the paper it had deserved! “It happens” we said, sympathetically.

Stephanie’s due to start with ZMusicTV at the beginning of May and will be a reporter and researcher for the site in Zambia. “ZMusicTV”? We wondered? Steph went on to explain that ZMusicTV is an online registered broadcasting entertainment company based in London which aims to broadcast Zambian Music and Art as a way of engaging fellow Zambians, and others interested in Zambia who are actively online, promoting talents in people such as musicians, models and fashion designers, reaching out to as many people in the UK and around the globe via the internet as possible. We asked her how she had got involved with ZMusicTV and she explained that she’d met Remo Mwanamuwila the CEO through a friend and things had taken off from there. We thought ZMusicTV was a great idea and said so, while wishing her and the channel the best of luck. Steph mentioned that you can find ZMusicTV on both Twitter and YouTube.

The music on the show was excellent as usual. Lady Antebellum’s smash ‘I Need You Now’ opened the show and George coupled this with Lady Saw featuring Eve – ‘He Is At My Home’. Two local hits followed – B Flow’s ‘Nkunda’ (dove) and JC ft Roberto with ‘Do Or Die’. Milli Jam chose Lady Gaga’s ‘Dance In The Dark’ with Alexis Jordan’s UK hit ‘Good Girl’. Snoop Dogg is a current favourite of mine and we featured ‘Sweat’ coupled with ‘I’m Into You’ by Jennifer Lopez ft Lil Wayne. We closed with Thompson Square’s US Billboard Country chart number one – ‘Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not?” Not – the guys told me!

Back to Stephanie. She told listeners she’ll have been married for 6 years this August but did not yet have any children and yes she missed her husband, a Lusaka businessman. She’d been educated at St Mary’s Secondary School in Lusaka, followed, after some years working, by a 4 year Certificate and then Diploma in Journalism at Evelyn Hone College in Lusaka. She would graduate in July 2011 and invited us to the ceremony! She was greatly looking forward to her new role with ZMusicTV reporting on local artists within Zambia and scouting for talent. Her favourite local musical artists at the moment? B1 and PJ. The guys nodded at her choice.

We gave listeners the usual news of Lodgeblog the Chanters Lodge blog and then the chart news from within Zambia where B1 featuring Daliso is still top with their track ‘Kalata’. We also brought listeners up to date with UK and US pop chart news, as well as a run down of the US country charts. Milli Jam asked Stephanie where she’d like to be and what she’s like to be doing 10 years from now. “I want to be the new Oprah” she said. QED as they say! (Quite Easily Done)!

5
APR

Africa, Chanters, entertainment, Lusaka, music, uk, victoriafalls, Zambia

Umoyo Natural Health

The Umoyo Natural Health Centre in Lusaka is great! So say The Best Of Zambia and who are we to disagree?

Umoyo means ‘life!’ and the Umoyo Natural Health Centre in Lusaka, Zambia, promises its clients a healthier life, whether they have specific health issues or not. It is registered with the Medical Council of Zambia and offers friendly consultations and a range of natural health treatments and therapies. The pleasantly situated Umoyo Health Centre has four treatment rooms, each with a dedicated therapist, and six support staff. The supporting Umoyo Health Shop in Arcades Shopping Centre offers a comprehensive range of natural health products.

Umoyo invites you to have a chat with one of their therapists and sample a delicious green smoothie or a freshly juiced organic wheat grass shot! If you live out of Lusaka, Umoyo is happy to discuss developing a workable program for you.

Here’s just a small sample of their treatments and therapies

* 7-day detox program
Comprehensive non-residential program which gives clients tonnes of energy, revitalises the skin, improves concentration and reduces stress. Good for weight loss. Amazing results!

* Anti smoking program
Uses the latest in Bio-Resonance technology to drastically reducing cravings, irritability and mood swings. Advice is also given on helpful diet and supplements.

* Bio resonance
Objective and comprehensive testing using the e-Lybra 8 bio-resonance system, followed by a personally comprehensive balancing treatment.

* Electro magnetic therapy
The sophisticated BEMER 3000 shows excellent results in treating persistent pain, wound and fracture healing, arthritis, headaches and sport injuries.

7
MAR

activities, Africa, bestofzambia, health, Lusaka, 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.”

10
FEB

Africa, education, entertainment, Lusaka, radioshow, Zambia

Lusaka Lab In A Container

Don’t you just love creative innovation? I do! Check this from PlusNews

A tiny laboratory capable of doing big things is what Barry Kosloff, working with the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, has created – a new type of high-tech, low-cost, tuberculosis (TB) lab in a shipping container. He walked IRIN/PlusNews through what it takes to build one.

“I don’t know if this is normal but it’s almost like I had a photograph of it in my head,” said Kosloff, who designed such a lab for the national reference laboratory in the capital, Lusaka. It is part of efforts by the Zambia AIDS-Related TB Project, a local NGO, to expand the country’s diagnostic capacity.

The facility is the first in Zambia to be equipped with infection controls that make it safe for staff to grow the TB cultures needed to diagnose HIV-positive patients, and to determine whether TB patients have successfully completed treatment.

London School Of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine? Now that stirs some memories in my foot!

6
FEB

entrepreneurship, infrastructure, innovation, London, Lusaka, medical

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