Meet Willi Bynens and Teresa Sensada, pictured above, who kindly agreed to appear as Guests on the most recent edition of The Chanters Lodge Experience with the Milli Jam Ingredient, our sponsored show which airs at 20.00 hrs every Sunday, on Zambezi Radio 107.5 fm Livingstone’s popular local radio station.

Willy and Teresa were staying in Livingstone at accommodation provided by Chanters Lodge. “How did you choose Chanters?” Milli Jam wanted to know. “We arrived in Livingstone by coach” explained Willy “and a taxi driver took us to the lodges near the Zambezi but we found them very expensive! After we’d explained to him what we were really looking for, he took us to Chanters Lodge.” “Has it proved to be what you wanted?” Continued Milimo. “Absolutely!” This nice couple agreed. (“Big up to that taxi driver” said I!)

“What made you choose to come to Livingstone in the first place?” We asked. Teresa and Willy explained that they’d been on a project in Katanga Province in the DRC (Congo) around Mbemba National Park, installing lap top computers in village situations. They’d needed a holiday on completion of the project, so they chose to come and see the mighty Victoria Falls.

We asked them to tell us more about their project. Willy explained that he’s an economist and computer science lecturer at CVORivierenland in Antwerp. Louis Daerden, a missionary friend of his, whom he’d met on a previous visit to DRC, had instigated a charitable project to install lap top computers in remote regions there, and asked Willy for help. Willy volunteered but didn’t want to travel alone, so he invited Teresa, an expert teacher and old friend, to accompany him on their 3000 km trip around that vast and rather unstable country. They had 100 computers and 7 satellite dishes with them and successfully installed them into 7 mission stations. Fantastic!

“How did you feel” we wanted to know “installing computers into villages that barely have electricity and running water?” “Strange” they said but expressed the hope that “perhaps the computers will help lead to further developement.” They explained that most of the mission stations had stand-by generators and said the local population were desperate to learn about computers and to get on line. (Using Vodacom modem sticks, apparently – why don’t we have Vodacom in Zambia I wonder).

Although Willy felt we hadn’t played enough local music on the show, for me the music and the presentation of the show were very good. “Battlefield” the latest Jordin Sparks. “Mama Do” by Pixie Lott (no 1 in UK) were followed by “We Are The People” by Empire Of The Sun and “Please Don’t Leave Me” by Pink – both current hits. “Days Go By” by Dirty Vegas is a great dance number and “Right Round” by Flo Rida is a retake of the old Dead or Alive hit – (‘you spin me right round like a record baby’) Aah! Tell me about “Lost Inside Your Love” by Enrique Iglesias ft Johnta Austin and “Overtime” by Ace Hood ft Akon and T Pain, and I’ll tell you we were ‘overtime’ on this show before we knew where we were! We played ‘Chintelelwe’ by Dandy Crazy (his girlfriend is ‘his shelter’), and yes we probably should have featured more local talent! Never mind! The music was hot!

Teresa explained to listeners that she has a regular spot on Radio Sabadell a Catalan radio station, telling her Spanish audience about life for Spanish people living abroad – Teresa lives in Belgium, speaks five languages and is by all reports a great teacher! Milli Jam and I were both on good form in this show. Me? Because of David Abel‘s great write up of his Livingstone trip, Chanters Lodge and Richard Chanter in that days’s Boston Globe! (Still can’t quite get over it). Milimo for once seemed cheerful, well rested and apparently enjoyed presenting and doing the technical side of the show by himself too. Where was George Soulchild? I wondered, but knew better than to ask!

How long are you staying in Livingstone, Milli Jam wanted to know. “We’re leaving tomorrow” Willy and Teresa explained. Milli Jam laughed. Why? He’s convinced I only bring Guests on the show who are leaving the next day! Not true! To end the show we gave away a dinner for two with drinks at Chanters Lodge to the first person to send us an sms telling us where this nice couple came from, and the response was a lot better than the week before. Belgium of course! A certain Emason won. “What do you know about Belgium” Willy asked me. “Trapiste Beer and chips” I replied. “What about chocolate!” he yelled. My God, how could I forget, I’m an addict! Milli Jam pointed out that Arsenal had just signed a Belgian player Thomas Vermaelen!

We closed with ‘Believe It Or Not’ as usual.