Prolific Zambian Musicians


Singer Afunika (above) and gospel artistes Kings Mumbi and Suwilanji had the most published music albums in Zambia in 2010, parliament heard recently.

Responding to a question from Kabwata Patriotic Front member of parliament Given Lubinda who wanted to know which album and which artiste published the largest number of copies in the period between 2007 and 2010, community development deputy minister Friday Malwa on the information obtained from the Zambia Music Copyright Protection Society (ZAMCOPS), named the albums as Malinso Malinso by Afunika, Government by Kings and Suwilanji’s Mwanjitile Kale.

Malwa said in 2007, albums such as Champion by Danny Siulapwa and Ephraim Mutalange’s Limo Ndanaka published the largest number of copies. In 2008, Petersen’s Bobojani, Runnel’s Panado and Stanley Chipuma’s Mweo Wandi albums had the largest number of copies, while Maloto by Yoram and Mutalange’s Lesa Talekelesha were the most published albums in 2009.

Malwa said 868 albums by Zambian artistes were published and produced on commercial basis in 2007, 474 in 2008, 691 albums in 2009 and 678 albums in 2010. During the same period, Malwa said the government was able to raise revenue from taxes amounting to K103 million in 2007, K104 million in 2008, K61.5 million in 2009 and K62.8 million in 2010. He said the reduction in revenue over the four years was due to artistes selling their albums and music online, which the government was unable to tax.

0