music – Chanters Lodge Livingstone

George Soulchild – Guest Blog

Here’s George Soulchild’s guest blog for the week. The photo is of an Ngoma Award statuette. I was lucky enough to win one in 2008 for my contribution towards the development of Zambian musicians!

“The National Arts Council of Zambia (NAC) and other stakeholders have started organizing the 14th Ngoma Awards show to take place on December 3 in Lusaka. This year’s theme is ‘Growing the Creative Industry’. The event has more than seven categories – visual arts, creative writing, media arts, music, drama, children’s theatre, traditional dance and theatre comedy – just to mention a few. The creative industry is growing tremendously and this year there will be about 24 awards given to the most deserving artists in the country.

The Ngoma Awards shows started in 1997 and were first held in Lusaka, Zambia. Then they were known as National Honours Awards but in 1998 the name was changed to Ngoma Awards. The first awards show was held at Lusaka Intercontinental Hotel. In the past two years the awards shows were held in Livingstone and Kitwe respectively, in the Southern and Copperbelt provinces of Zambia. The show is held every year to honour Zambian artists who have done exceptional work deserving to be recognised and appreciated.

Alpha Romeo – A new kid on the block
Alpha Romeo is the new kid on the block, his music style is mainly hip-hop sung in Nyanja and he is quite popular with young people. His first single ‘Will’ was released some time late last year. His lyrics are full of social commentary and his most popular song at the moment is ‘’Rumour’’ produced by KB for K-Amy Entertainment. We played this track on the Chanters show as our second local number. Alpha’s14 track album ‘President’ drops next week and is something all hip-hop fans should look out for.
Crystal Shaun – The most underrated artist
Crystal Shaun aka Webster Chilufya has been in the local music industry since the late 90’s when he was still doing his secondary education at Mpika Boys School along with fellow local artistes Runnel and Danny. He dropped his first album in 2004 – it carried the smash hit song “Elina” featuring Runnel produced by TK of Romaside Studio in Lusaka. His follow up album was released under David Sling Studio also based in Lusaka. Crystal Shaun is one of the most underrated artists on the local scene as he’s got so much more to offer. If you take some time to listen to any of his work you’ll agree with me. His style of music is soft raga sung in Bemba and Nyanja. He is currently in the studio cooking up his new sound. On the Chanters’ show we played a song titled ‘’Chimami’’ from his forthcoming album which still untitled.”

Thanks George for your usual entertaining and interesting insight!

27
AUG

Africa, awards, blog, Chanters, copperbelt, Lusaka, music, radioshow, Zambia

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’.”

20
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.

18
AUG

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

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!

13
AUG

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

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…

9
AUG

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

Zambian Music On The Chanters Lodge Experience

On yesterday’s blog about our weekly Sunday night radio show – The Chanters Lodge Experience with the Milli Jam Ingredient featuring Soulchild – I mentioned that my knowledge of Zambian music is so poor, and lack of venacular language capability so total, that it would be nice if Soulchild (George Mukwita above), could give us the weekly lowdown on the Zambian music we play on the show. I have a Zambian award for the promotion of local musicians and I really feel I should go on with the work! In future we’ll also picture some of the artists and whenever we can, feature them as Guests on the show, as we have sometimes in the past. Anyway here’s George’s first post, and of course we’ll welcome your comments: Thanks Soulchild!

“Firstly, all local producers deserve to be given a merit for their work. Production of Zambian music is no longer the same as it was seven or ten years ago, a clear sign of development in the industry and in the mind set of the producers and creativity of the artists. Local radio stations are now filled with Zambian music from different Artists, out showing their skills and talents in their productions. At least we are all proud that some local productions even have the capability to be aired on Radio Stations outside Zambia. Zambian music has a rich heritage which falls roughly into three categories: Traditional, Popular and Christian.

The first Zambian track we played on Sunday was by Ston featuring Judy titled Fire! It’s a great track, sung in english and produced at K-amy studio in Lusaka, both artists are under that recording studio. Judy dropped her first album some time last year and is currently working on her second. Ston is yet to drop his first project…it could be before the end of the year we just have to wait and see..

Second track we played was by the very well known K’millian titled Mailo meaning “Tomorrow” – the track is in Bemba.The song is talking about helping out someone, a friend in need. It’s lifted off his 4th album. K’millian is currently in the studio cooking up a new album which should be out some time in October this year.

P-jay’s track titled ‘Contolo’ slang for “Control” was our third and final Zambian track on the show. The track talks about a guy losing his control every time he is in the presence of his women! Don’t get it twisted its an all round love song that will keep you dancing!

(‘Contolo’ – now there’s a nice new word for me! And no, don’t get it twisted! Ed)

14
JUL

Africa, blog, entertainment, innovation, music, radioshow, Zambia

Bring On The Brass Band!

I liked this piece from Joanne Noble who blogs from Sun International. It’s true the brassband still does it’s thing! In my experience sometimes more tunefully than at others! The fete she mentioned at Mukuni Park on Monday was a huge success and Henry and Grace had a great time there! Here’s Joanne’s piece.

“I am sure that when you think of African music, you will think of the African drum and possibly the marimba, like a xylophone. It may surprise you then to know that one of the favorite bands in Livingstone is a brass band. When Zambia was Northern Rhodesia they did not have an army; they had a police force. It was known as the Barotse Native Police. The rank and file of the police were men from the Lozi tribe and the officers were expatriates who had come to Zambia to work.

As soon as the police force was formed the officers thought that it would be a great idea to have a brass band; they decided to find out if their men could learn to play. So they brought in trumpets and tubas, drums and trombones and they gave them to their men. The constables could neither read nor write and certainly did not have a clue about crochets and quavers. This did not matter, though. Within a short time they learned to play their strange instruments and the Barotse Police Band was formed. Every Thursday evening the band played in the center of town in Barotse Gardens for the entertainment of the townsfolk. It was thought to be one of the best bands in the whole of southern Africa.

The other day as I was going through town I found the army brass band marching towards the Barotse Gardens, now known as Mukuni Park. The members of the Catholic Church were holding a fete in Mukuni Park and the army band had come to join in the fun and to make it more festive. The people in town all stood to watch as the band marched past and the children jumped up and down, they were so excited.

As I watched them go by I thought of those days now a hundred years ago. Things were so different then, so much has changed. Northern Rhodesia is now Zambia; the bandsmen wear long trousers and a cap instead of shorts and a fez. But some things have not changed. We still have a brilliant brass band in Livingstone and they continue to play for the enjoyment of us all.”

(The band often accompanies fund raising causes on the main road at weekends causing traffic hold ups, and that brings no enjoyment at all! – R)

9
JUL

activities, Africa, livingstone, music, Zambia

Nate Sinyangwe Plays 107.7 fm & Suite 1!

When Nate, Laura and Liana Sinyangwe (above) arrived at Livingstone Airport at 16.30 hrs on Sunday (when I was happily missing the Germany v England debacle on TV), the first thing I said to them was ‘will you do me a favor for a favor?’! “Why not?” answered Nate straight away, as daughter Liana tripped along excitedly beside him. “What’s the deal?”

Well, I said, “we’ll give you our new executive suite at the normal double rate you booked for your stay, and you can be the first people ever to stay in it, – IF – you’ll appear on the Chanters Lodge Experience with the Milli Jam Ingredient ft George Soulchild (as well as Zambia’s most famous part time mzungu DJ!) live at 20.30 hrs on 107.7fm tonight! Nate and Diana were delighted with the deal and though we were sorry Laura and Liana couldn’t make it for the show, just too travel weary! Nate was great value. So too was the suite!

“Is it true you work for BP“? We wanted to know on the show. “In the Gulf of Mexico?” “No Alaska!” “What are you doing about the spill in the Gulf?”. Nate admitted there wasn’t much they could do until the new pressure wells were finished. Nate had been educated at Hill Crest School near Chanters Lodge so his was a nostalgic visit home with his wife and cute daughter. Good example too, of what determined and bright young Zambians can do we said!

We played Treysongz – I’m so deep into that at the moment, ‘Already Taken’ and ‘Missing You’. We played Mumpi – Fever and Gyptian Hold Ya! So Nate could catch up on his Zambian latest and overall musically we had a good selection as usual.

We gave away the normal dinner for 2 at Chanters Lodge – quickly snapped up, for the first texter telling us which country Nate lives in now! Thanks Guys!

29
JUN

accommodation, Africa, airlines, Chanters, football, music, radioshow, World Cup 2010, Zambia

‘Uncle Jumbo’

Meet Mr Evaristo Webster Mutanga (and his sister Naomi), who featured on the latest edition of the Chanters Lodge Experience with the Milli Jam Ingredient, our regular 20.30 hrs Sunday night radio show, that goes out on Zambezi Radio 107.7 fm every week. Evaristo is much better known as ‘Uncle Jumbo’, and he has a great programme of his own on Tuesday nights on 107.7 when he plays oldies for an hour – ‘Down Memory Lane’. Twice I’ve been honored to be his Guest on that show and it was definitely time to ‘turn the tables’.

Uncle Jumbo worked on Zambia Railways for 27 years and enjoyed those days. He has a great interest in music – both old and new. We sharpened him up with Katy Perry’s latest ‘Califurnia Girls’ and my favourite at the moment ‘Candy’ by Aggro Santos ft Kim Wyatt. I’m getting mighty sick of these Zambian DJ’s Milli Jam and Soulchild – every time they play one of my latest saying ‘but this is hot Richard!’ What do they expect from Zambia’s most famous Mzungu DJ?! We played Turn Turn Turn by the Byrds for Jumbo and his sister – for old times sake! And TY2’s latest ‘This Feeling’.

A certain Nambayo won a dinner for 2 for telling us Uncle Jumbo’s real name, which we’d only mentioned once! Evaristo looks after all the transport arrangements for the 107.7 fm staff and he’s an essential worker – DJ’s being how they are when it comes to time! He first met Swithin Haangala the owner of 107.7 fm back in 67/68 when Jumbo was a footballer with City of Lusaka and he told us he was a good Badminton player too!

Great show!

14
JUN

Africa, Chanters, music, People, radioshow, transport, Zambia

The Livingstone Performing Arts Foundation

The Livingstone Performing Arts Foundation (LiPAF) is a not-for-profit NGO staging musical theatre shows to preserve and promote Zambian culture through excellence in the arts. They offer full time employment to 20 very talented performers from Livingstone and have implemented several community projects to support local schools, health organizations, and vulnerable families.

Currently, they are performing their latest show, “Dancing Around Zambia” at the Zambezi Sun Resort every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday evening at 20h00. Charges are $20 or just K25,000 for Zambian residents. Although they are given the use of the venue at the Sun, LiPAF is not hired by Sun and they are wholly dependent upon ticket sales for their revenue.

At Chanters Lodge we have just ‘linked’ their website with ours and they, in turn, will list our web site on theirs at www.lipaf.org. They also want you to know that they can travel with their show to other venues for group performances.

I haven’t yet seen one of their shows but hope to do so in the near future, but we’ve heard only excellent reports from Guests who have done so! We wish them the best of luck with their great project!

19
NOV

Africa, Chanters, charities, entertainment, livingstone, music, Zambia

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