Gordon Brown

Gordon Brown

Meet Gordon Brown (above) frequent guest at Chanters Lodge, Livingstone and also our guest on the most recent edition of the Chanters Lodge Experience with the Milli Jam Ingredient featuring Jay Hillz, The Experience is the weekly radio show sponsored by Chanters Lodge airing every Sunday night at 20.30 hrs for an hour live on Zambezi 94.1 fm, and is an easy mixture of latest international and Zambian pop music, interspersed with chat with our guest. Gordon told listeners that this was his fourth or fifth visit to Livingstone in recent years, and that he found Chanters to be a good place to stay, not a luxury lodge, but homely, comfortable, clean with good food and helpful, friendly staff. That made us feel happy!

Gordon is Canadian from Victoria, BC and spent 35 years as a primary school teacher, headmaster and administrator in the Canadian education system. He had been ‘retired’ for the past twenty years. He is a widower with a son, daughter and four grandchildren all living quite near him in Victoria. Our guest told listeners that he first came to Zambia in 1996 under VSO (Voluntary Service Overseas), a quasi British government outfit, as a lecturer at David Livingstone Teacher Training College in Livingstone. He had also spent time in Ghana under the auspices of VSO.

The music on the show was good with tracks from Fuse ODG, Nero, Hayden James, Chris Brown, Beatenberg, Kayo, Majik Links ft K’Millian and Fifth Harmony. Gordon’s own taste in music he described as ‘very 50’s’! Sports wise he follows ice hockey and his grandson’s support of Wolves in UK has given Gordon a little interest in EPL soccer in UK.

Gordon is very much involved in The Canadian Harambee Education Society (CHES) which helps girls get secondary education by raising funds for scholarships for Kenyan and Tanzanian girls who gain Secondary School placements, but have no funds for school fees. Also by placing CHES girls in boarding schools (wherever possible) to maximize their success. They also support special projects when donations are so targeted such as building dormitories, enriched learning centres and services to support them. CHES sends volunteers (often retired teachers) as agents in Kenya. Gordon is currently busy on a project to provide admin facilities for CHES in Kenya.

Gordon had spent the day of the show in Chobe NP and had been delighted to see both lion and leopard, as well as the usual array of elephant and other animals on the trip. During his visit he would be going across to Zimbabwe to see the Falls from that side, plus a visit to Nakatindi Community School to review progress, as he had been involved in the establishment of that school.

Asked where he would like to be and what he would like to be doing ten years’ from now he replied that he would like to be alive and productive.

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The Zambelly Experience!

Ramya and Mina

Why the Zambelly Experience?! Well, Ramya Kumar (above left) and her mum Meena were guests on the most recent edition of the Chanters Lodge Experience with the Milli Jam Ingredient ft Jay Hillz, the weekly radio show sponsored by Chanters Lodge and airing every Sunday night on Zambezi 94.1 fm, Livingstone’s leading local radio station. Ramya is one of the leading lights in the Zambian belly dancing team, soon to participate in a competition in Cape Town. You’ll find more details on the group’s Facebook page here. For sure that’s the first time we’ve had a belly dancer on our show, though we were not treated to a demo in the studio – more’s the pity…

Ramya and Meena hail from Boston, Massachusetts and were visiting Livingstone staying at Chanters Lodge. Ramya works for the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC, a Federal agency and the leading national public health institute of the United States. CDC have an office in Lusaka and Ramya is half way through her two year contract and apparently loving life and Africa, despite the current difficulties of living in Zambia. She holds a Masters in Epidemiology from Boston University – ‘ the science that studies the patterns, causes, and effects of health and disease conditions in defined populations’ for the uninitiated like me! Mum is a banker back in Boston.

The music on the show was good with tracks from Fuse ODG, Justin Bieber, R City ft Adam Levine, Sigala, Macklemore ft Ryan Lewis, Kayo, Ozzy ft OC, Lilanga and Zeus. Jay Hillz led the show as Milli Jam was out. The ladies said they both had very broad tastes in music – everything from Bollywood to Johnny Cash via Radiohead!

The ladies told listeners that they had been on the Lady Livingstone sunset cruise while they had been in town as well as visiting the Falls which they declared to be ‘very dry’. They had also been on a one day safari to Chobe and were very excited as they had managed to see lions, watching over the carcass of a dead elephant from which they. the lions, had clearly been dining. They had seen a host of other game too. They were leaving back to Lusaka early the following morning.

Asked where they would like to be and that they would like to be doing ten years’ from now, Meena said she would like to be retired with grandchildren visiting Zambia. Ramya wanted to have babies, a husband and a Phd in Epidemiology – apparently no great ambition to be big in the world of belly dancing!

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The 7/11 Experience

Saxon Mungala

Meet Englebert Saxon Mungala, guest on the most recent edition of the Chanters Lodge Experience with the Milli Jam Ingredient featuring Jay Hillz. ‘The Experience’ is the weekly radio show sponsored by Chanters Lodge airing every Sunday at 20.30 hrs CAT on Zambezi 94.1 fm, Livingstone’s leading local radio station. Why the ‘7/11 Experience’, well Saxon (as he prefers to be called) is currently development manager for the new 7/11 project in Livingstone on the site of the former Ayoba Night Club/ Pub and Grill. Saxon said the new project will comprise a liquor store, a restaurant doubling as a disco at night, as well as a smooth VIP lounge on the first floor with ‘cool’ music. Quite some undertaking we opined.

Milli Jam wondered where Saxon had picked up his very un-Zambian first names. Saxon told listeners that his father had been working in Germany and as a fan of Englebert Humperdink the 60’s singing star, had used the name when naming Saxon! Born and brought up in Lusaka Saxon had completed his secondary education at Namwianga Secondary in Kalomo before heading back to Evelyn Hone College in Lusaka where he had studied for diplomas in graphic reproduction and marketing.

After College Saxon had become a DJ/Music Presenter at Jungle Night Club, Zenon and the Alfa, where he and Milli Jam had first met. Saxon had recently returned from eight years working in Malawi and Mozambique on the club circuits. With every intention of returning to work in Lusaka, his plans had been hi jacked by the 7/11 operators who had grabbed him to develop their Livingstone project.

The music on our show was good with tracks from Rachel Platten, OMI, The Weekend, Chindima, JK, Bobby East, Justin Bieber and Madcon.

Saxon told us that he is as yet unmarried and has a 12 year old daughter Christine who stays with her mum in Lusaka and whom he misses a lot! At home he listens to soft music and his favourite artist is R Kelly. He is not into sport and at the present time is totally focused on getting 7/11 up and open by 18th September. we touted for tickets for the opening and Jay wanted to know a lot about the DJ jobs that might be on offer! No guesses why!

Asked where he would like to be and what he would like to be doing ten years’ from now Saxon said he would like to be Livingstone based, married with a family and doing very well in business. We wished him the best of luck.

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The Wilf Hoare Experience!

Wilf Hoare

Meet Wilf Hoare (above), model, radio presenter, young, handsome and guest on a recent edition of the Chanters Lodge Experience with the Milli Jam Ingredient featuring Jay Hillz. The Experience is the weekly Sunday night radio show sponsored by Chanters Lodge airing for an hour live at 20.30 hrs on Zambezi 94.1 fm, Livingstone’s leading local radio station.

“Hoare is not a very Zambian surname” remarked Milli Jam at the top of the show. Wilf explained that his great grand father was Irish and the name had been passed on through the generations. He assured listeners that he was a Tonga from Livingstone! “Born and brought up in the city”? Asked Jay Hillz. “Yes indeed!” said Wilf. He went on to say that he had been educated at Linda Secondary School in Livingstone but would still need to revisit his Grade 12 Maths exam before he could enroll for further education. Eventually he would love to study journalism and media studies.

He now has several slots on Zambezi FM including a phone in show when listeners phone in describing the problems in their love lives and receive advice from Wilf. “Aren’t you a bit young for that?” I wondered (Wilf is just 19) – apparently not as Wilf’s show is a big hit on the station. The music on the show was good with tracks from Fuse ODG, One Direction, Charlie Puth, Chef 187, DJ Snake ft Aluna George, Jason Derulo, Drimz, Macklemore and Sarah Harding. Wilf told listeners that he had a broad taste in music and listened at home to country, R&B and hip-hop.

On the modelling side Wilf had formed Wil-Wild-3300 which would produce and promote his port folio of photographs enabling him to tie down more modelling contracts. Did he prefer radio presenting or modelling, we wondered. “I love both!” the reply. Wilf told us he is single but has a steady date. “Not really into sport but I like boxing” said Wilf when asked about his football preferences.Rather surprisingly he loves to cook and bake at home.
Asked where he would like to be and what he would like to be doing 10 years from now our young guest said he would like to have finished his studies and to have founded his own successful agency in Livingstone.

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The Joost Vranken Experience!

Joost Vranken

Meet Joost Vranken (above) from Ghent in Belgium, and guest on the most recent edition of the Chanters Lodge Experience with the Milli Jam Ingredient featuring Jay Hillz. The Experience is the weekly radio show we sponsor on Zambezi 94.1 fm, Livingstone’s leading local radio station. The show airs every Sunday evening live from 20.30 – 21.30 hrs.

Joost told listeners that he was in Zambia on holiday and was spending a week or so in Livingstone at Chanters Lodge. He was comfortable at the lodge describing the operation as quiet, homely and friendly. He’s an administrator back in Ghent working for De Lijn, a big Belgian transport company. Joost went on to tell us that he had first come to Zambia in 1991 as a history teacher at Kawambwa Boys Technical Secondary School. In those days national service was still compulsory in Belgium but he was able to come to Zambia to work, as an option to serving in the military.

On completion of his national service he had taught for a number of years at Nkrumah Teachers Training College in Kabwe. He holds a degree in African History and Languages from Ghent University in Belgium. He set up a business in Zambia but left to return to his home country in 2007. Asked about the difference between Zambia and Belgium he said ‘the people, the space and the light’. He clearly misses Zambia!

The music on the show was nice featuring tracks from Lost Frequencies (a Belgian artist), Calvin Harris, Chvrches, Demi Levato, Jay Rox, Big Sean ft Jhene Aiko, T-Sean ft JK and Sean Paul. There were a lot of Seans in there! Music wise Joost is into jazz and stars like Van Morrison.

Joost said he and the friend with whom he had travelled had very much enjoyed the white water rafting on the Zambezi during their stay but not the climb out of the gorge. His friend had bungee jumped while he looked on in shock and horror!

On the sports scene he is into squash and was very much involved in the administration of the sport in Zambia when he was based in Kabwe, even accompanying the national under 21 team to the All Africa Games in Botswana. He supports his local team in Ghent in the Belgian league and in England Arsenal. We were happy about that!

Asked where he would like to be and what he would like to be doing in ten years time, our guest said it was a big question but that he would like to be healthy, happy and if possible involved with business in Zambia. In this regard he talked of Zambian honey. ‘A Zambian honey?’ I wondered (Joost is single). “No” the reply “the Zambian honey industry”. “Ah!” I said.

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The King Lewis Experience!

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Meet King Lewis The Second, aka Lewis Yuyi, (above) currently employed at Ngulide Lodge in Livingstone but much better known in the city as a presenter on Zambezi 94.1 fm, Livingstone’s leading local radio station and coincidentally hosts of the Chanters Lodge Experience with the Milli Jam Ingredient featuring Jay Hillz. Lewis was our guest on the most recent edition of the programme. Our show airs every Sunday night at 20.30 hrs for an hour live and has been a constant on the station since 2007!

Lewis told listeners that he was ‘born and bred’ in Livingstone and that he was educated at David Livingstone High School in the city. He had subsequently obtained a certificate in marketing. His first connection with Zambezi fm was when he had joined the Fan Club. Lewis is a member of Livingstone Lighthouse Church and is ‘born again’ we were told. This life changing event led him to an interest in gospel music.

Putting ‘two and two together’ Lewis became the presenter of 4-2-6, Zambezi fm’s two hour Sunday afternoon gospel music show, and this led to Lewis becoming further involved in other Zambezi fm shows on a part time basis. Feeling the need to have full time employment he had successfully secured a job with Ngulide Lodge and luckily, he was now delighted also to be back at Zambezi fm on Sunday afternoons.

There was no gospel music on this show and in fact there was also no Milli Jam who was indisposed so Jay was the Ingredient and a good one too! We dropped tracks from Little Mix, Sam Feldt, Robin Schultz, John Newman, Big Sean, KB, DJ Mzengaman and Lady-X. Hot stuff!

Lewis told listeners that he was ‘still single but not really’ as he and the mother of his daughter intended to marry next year. Lewis said that as an experienced event organizer the wedding arrangements should not be an issue, though he wasn’t quite so sure about the lobola demand!

At home he confessed he listened more to traditional Zambian Kalandula music than gospel and said his favourite artist is the late great PK Chishala. (A controversial Zambian performer with whom I had a ‘confrontation’ at a show for KK way back in 1991 – but that’s another story). King Lewis follows soccer mostly because his friends do, and said his favourite team is Barcelona.

Asked where he would like to be and what he would like to be doing ten years’ from now, our guest said that he would like to have different trades, have studied different subjects and be working for the BBC in London. Why not? We said.

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Howard University Zambian Experience

Annabelle Dorion & Juliette Fombi

Meet Annabelle Dorion (above left) and Juliette Fombi, students at Howard University in Washington DC, USA, and guests on the most recent edition of the Chanters Lodge Experience with the Milli Jam Ingredient featuring Jay Hillz. ‘The Experience’ is the weekly radio show airing on Zambezi 94.1 fm, Livingstone’s leading local radio station, from 20.30-21.30 hrs every Sunday night sponsored by Chanters Lodge and is a lively mixture of latest international and Zambian pop music interspersed with chat with our guest-of-the-week. We also give listeners social media and pop chart updates.

Annabelle and Juliette told listeners they had been in Livingstone for the past three weeks on internships at Livingstone General Hospital. They are third and fourth year students at Howard studying pharmacy, and their work at the hospital had been based at the HIV/Aids section dispensing medication and offering counseling to patients. They had been accommodated at Chanters Lodge throughout their stay in Livingstone and had been happy at the lodge, it had been comfortable and convenient, they said. The girls actually seemed sorry they would be leaving for home in America in a few days’ time. The work had been an eye opener and they had made friends.

The music on the show was latest and varied featuring tracks from Fuse ODG, David Zowie, Years and Years, Chefy 187, Natalie la Rose ft Fetty Wap, Salma Sky, Olly Murs and ‘Yoga’ by Janelle Monae ft Jinneda. Our pick of the week was by Jake Miller and the closing track from Little Mix

Milli Jam wanted to know if the girls had had time to undertake any of the many tourist activities available in Livingstone and the girls bemoaned just how expensive most of the activities were for students on a budget. However they had enjoyed seeing Victoria Falls and on Annabelle’s birthday the previous weekend they had taken the sunset cruise on the Zambezi which they had thoroughly enjoyed. “No bungee jump?” I wondered. They laughed and said they’d been scared to do that. They had though, enjoyed some leisure time at the various pubs and clubs in Livingstone. They told us they were both single and had ‘no time for boyfriends’. We wondered about this….

Annabelle’s roots are in Philippines and Juliette’s in Cameroon. Living in Washington had they met President Obama? – Annabelle had! We were impressed. Both girls said they loved all types of music and had no real favourite though Juliette loves Nigerian tracks. Annabelle supports Arsenal in England which made Milli Jam happy and both girls were delighted that USA had recently won the Women’s Football World Cup.

Asked where they would like to be and what they would like to be doing in ten years’ time, both girls said they would like to be fully qualified pharmacists, working, married and with families. We thanked them for coming on our show and wished them a nice few days in South Africa when they left Zambia and a safe journey home to Washington DC later in the month.

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Power of Love Foundation on ‘The Experience’

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Why the Power of Love Foundation Experience? Well, the Power of Love Foundation is a secular United States charity focused on developing innovative, cost-effective solutions to address the AIDS epidemic. They work directly with women and children impacted by the AIDS epidemic and create long-term solutions that go beyond handouts. The Foundation is very active in Matero, Lusaka where there are some 5000 children infected with HIV/Aids. Matero is one of Lusaka’s huge sprawling low cost housing ‘compounds’. The Foundation is caring for some 275 of these children providing medication, care and support. Amongst other things the Foundation has provided some 20,000 mosquito nets into Matero in the past few years. They have also provided over 550 loans to small business.

On the most recent edition of the Chanters Lodge Experience with the Milli Jam Ingredient ft Jay Hillz, we were lucky enough to have Alka and Suresh Subramanian with their son Jay, as guests on our programme. In the photo Suresh is on the right, Jay next to him and Alka 4th from the right, (they were on their way to Chobe). Alka and Suresh are the prime movers of the Power of Love Foundation. Alka told us that she had given up her job as a professor at the University of South Dakota in order to concentrate full time on her work for the Foundation. Suresh is a Vice President with Hewlitt Packard, and when the couple are not visiting Zambia they are home in San Diego, California. Funds are raised in the States for their Zambian project.

What had first inspired the couple to help Zambia specifically? Wondered Milli Jam. “We fell in love with Zambia at first sight” they replied. “We just love the Zambian smile!” They told us this was roughly their seventh trip to Zambia.

The music on the show was up to our usual high standard and a good mix with tracks from Deorro ft Chris Brown, Axwell / Ingrosso, Miley Cyrus, Bruce Springsteen, Chef 187 ft F-Jay, Sockodie ft Ace Hood, DJ Cosmo ft Kayo and Major Lazer. Alka’s musical taste is locked into oldies with the Beatles and Abba her favourite bands. Suresh loves jazz.

This engaging couple told us that they had met while they were at school together in India, they had been married for 34 years and had two other offspring apart from Jay. They had moved to USA to do their doctorates and now US citizens they had lived there for more than 30 years. They love it. No, theirs was not an ‘arranged marriage’ they responded to my question on the matter. Nor had they ever met Sachin Tendulkar and they could not explain how India had failed to win the recent cricket World Cup!

When not working Alka likes to hike in the mountains near their home, while Suresh has his own small plane which he loves to fly, telling us that one day he would love to fly across Africa! They do enjoy football but this turned out to involve Real Madrid and Man U. Asked where they would like to be and what they would like to be doing ten years from now Suresh said he would like to be retired and together with Alka spending more time in Zambia helping more communities. We thanked them for coming on the show and for the great work their foundation was doing in our country!

 

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The Zambia Air Force Experience!

Cephas Mudaala

Meet Captain Cephas Mudaala (above) of the Zambia Air Force and guest of the week on the most recent edition of the Chanters Lodge Experience with the Milli Jam Ingredient featuring Jay Hillz. The Experience is our weekly radio show airing at 20.30 hrs CAT for an hour live every Sunday night on Zambezi 94.1 fm, Livingstone’s leading local radio station. The show is a great mix of local and international pop music and conversation with our guest. We also give social media and pop chart updates, each and every week.

Cephas told listeners that although he is based in Lusaka, he was currently in Livingstone for a month on training. After completing secondary school at St Raphael’s School in Livingstone Cephas had joined Fairmount Hotel as an accounts clerk, then Sun International in the same capacity. He had joined Zambia Air Force some twelve years ago. Working his way up he had obtained the rank of Captain, was a trained pilot and now an instructor of pilots! He flies the MA60 – a Chinese aircraft. “So you sing the R Kelly song “I Believe I Can Fly”? I enquired. “R Kelly – one of my favourite artists” the dead pan reply!

The music on our show was good. We played tracks from Fuse ODG, Walk The Moon, Zedd ft Selena Gomez, Olly Murs, Rixton, Afunika, Kevin McCall, Iggy Azalea ft Jennifer Hudson and Jaguar ft 2 Kind – the latter one of Zambia’s latest hot acts!

Cephas told us that he is married and that his wife is also in the Zambia Air Force – a lieutenant by rank, though apparently in command in the home! “Was it love at first sight?” Milli Jam wondered. “Funny that!” Remarked Cephas “when we met, the first thing I said to her was ‘we will marry’ and she had laughed, but I had the last laugh!” He and his wife have a two year old little boy Luyando. ‘Love’ it means! “Naughty?” I wondered. “Very!” The reply.

Having been brought up in Livingstone Cephas said he was very familiar with the many tourist activities in Livingstone and although he had never bungee jumped he had almost’ done it and ‘would love to do it’. He had also never jumped out of a plane – we guessed that he flies planes so that others can! He and his wife had recently though had a great time at Mukuni Big 5 riding elephants and walking with lions.

It transpired that our Guest supports Manchester United, claiming that he was ‘forced into it’ by his elder brother. Just imagine! We then spent some time discussing Arsenal players and Jack Wilshere’s two goals for England in an international that afternoon. When not flying planes, teaching others to fly or looking after Luyando, Cephas enjoys sleeping and listening to music.

Asked where he would like to be and what he would like to be doing ten years’ from now, Cephas said he would like to be a General in charge of Zambia Air Force.
“Yes Sir!” We said……

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The Chosen One Rocks ‘The Experience’

James Silavwe

 

James Silavwe (above) also known as ‘The Chosen One’ is, according to Milli Jam who knows about these things, the best club DJ in Livingstone and amongst the best in Zambia. “What makes you say so?” I wondered. “He has great mixing skills, a good choice in tracks and he really knows how to keep the dance floor heaving and buzzing”! Was the reply. “If he’s based in Livingstone, how come you say he’s amongst the best in the whole country?” James explained that he has become known across the country as he works for Eastpoint, and the company has clubs in Lusaka, Chipata and on the Copperbelt. The DJ’s are from time to time sent on temporary transfers to sister clubs, hence James has become known and popular throughout the land!

This whole conversation took place on the most recent edition of the Chanters Lodge Experience with the Milli Jam Ingredient featuring Jay Hillz when James was our Guest and ‘the chosen one’ on the night! Our show airs every Sunday night on Zambezi fm for an hour live and is popular throughout the local community. “How did you get the name ‘The Chosen One’?” Jay asked our guest who explained that when he first started as a DJ some six years’ ago, his colleagues felt that he needed a handle to his name and his friend Obi had suggested ‘The Chosen One’. The name had stuck. James told listeners that before being employed at Eastpoint he had been trained at Club Fairmount in Livingstone by Milli Jam amongst others. He described Milli as his inspiration.

The music on our show was great with tracks from Natalie la Rose featuring Jeremih, DJ SKT ft Rae, Lawson, John Newman, Gogo ft DJ Cleo, Simwala ft F Jay, Numani Ona and Disclosure.

James told us that he had been brought up in Livingstone but had for a while been educated at Kitwe Boys School before transferring to Hill Crest Technical Secondary School in Livingstone. He is still single although ‘spoken for’, he has no children as yet. He attributes his success in his field to the care he takes in pre-selecting and preparing his tracks for each and every show.

The Chosen One told us that he supports Manchester United – that was enough for Milli Jam to almost avoid asking him anything about football – it would have been different if he had said Arsenal. Changing the subject, had he ever bungee jumped we wondered? He had not – though said he would like to. That’s what they all say….

Asked where he would like to be and what he would like to be doing ten years’ from now our guest told us that he would like to own and be managing his own club and to be married with children.

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