Police service spokesperson, Ndandula Siamana says the trio is suspected to have hijacked a truck carrying copper from Chingola destined for china.

She says the copper cobalt worth 1.7 billion kwacha was stolen during the hijack.

The trio is currently detained at a police station on the Copperbelt.

The 33-year-old musician, who together with Leo Bweupe emerged on the local music scene under Mondo Music label in 1998, says the 13-song album will be on the market this month.

“I finished working on my second solo project which will be on the market by the end of this month and people should look out for it,” he said.

The album comprises the songs Teine chinondo, Ichibebe, Afuna kuziba, Ukutangila tekufika which talks about HIV/AIDS and Headache, the album’s title track. The album is currently receiving good air play on radio stations.

Chulu, who also plays guitar and piano, says his first solo album came out three years ago and that the current one is about issues affecting the community as well as mature love life. He describes the music as Kalifunku, which is a combination of Kalindula and infunkuntu.

The album features the likes of Orga Kent of the Orga family, Boyd Sage, and Felingo. In addition, Chulu said his album was produced by Jerry Fingers, Jerry D and Trick Star.

Chulu, a businessman, advised upcoming artistes to not just sing for the sake of singing.
“One has to have talent in order to venture well,” he urged.

Shadreck Mulilo

“Basically I will say I was born with music within me,” says the married father of three. “My father used to sing, though he was not a musician, but he loved playing guitar, and traditional instruments, and sometimes he would sing to my mother. Then I picked it up from there. In 1997, I met a friend named Joseph Chanda. He was singing and looking for a partner to sing with. We used to sing, rap…we blended so well, and we started from there.”

The duo featured on ZNBC Tv’s Sounds Good programme, before Mulilo decided to pursue his vision to do a solo project. Upon joining Pamodzi in 2005, Mulilo collaborated with the hotel’s resident band on working on his album.

“The band had been in music for over 20 years, had retired, and they were singing jazz and blues music. I talked to them, they heard my vision, and they were excited. So we rehearsed for about a year and a half, then we were ready to go to the studio where we recorded all the instruments live.”

Wilasakamana, which was released last year, comprises ten songs of praise, worship and inspiration. Among these are the title track, Exalted, Twalipalwa, Ba Lesa wandi, Libe Iyacindikwa, Ewingansunga, Ba Neighbour and Tumulumbanye.
Abstinence, which features two of Mulilo’s children, warns against the dangers of HIV/AIDS. Mulilo says the song, which talks about a high-achieving student who used to go nightclubs and later discovered that he was HIV positive, is based on a true story.

Mulilo has so far shot four music videos.

He says there is abundant music talent in the country and condemns the rampant piracy that’s affecting the local industry.

Mulilo, who has been a chef for over ten years, says music and cooking are his passions. “I’ve only chosen two things in my life: that is singing and cooking. So if I’m not singing, I’m cooking. If I’m not working, I’m at the studio, at church, or attending some shows. Cooking is demanding, but I think cooking is art as well as music,” Mulilo says.

Having previously also worked at Arabian Nights and Hotel Intercontinental, Mulilo says he is planning to write a book on cookery.

“I am a worker of God, so minister Mulilo means working for God. I looked at how God wants me to work, which is to win souls to him and I looked at also vulnerable people, like the orphans, the children who need help … I said I could impact a small, a young generation, so that we leave an inheritance for them, and show them the good way,” says Mulilo.

Post

Before performing at the venue, the Chintelelwe singer told the crowd gathered that he did not believe in the Born and Bred Awards as well as the Ngoma Awards any more because the prize monies they give to winners were not enough and belittle artistes.

He uttered unprintables and shouted, referring to the two awards shows that were held last month as he asked the DJ to lower the music so as to make his point clear.

“Mulanda ati Ba Dandy balipwa (you say that Dandy is finished). I’m not finished…Infact if there are reporters I want them to say it that Born and Bred is rubbish, Ngoma is useless. How can they give K1 million to an artiste, how?” he asked as people were heard laughing and others encouraged him to talk.

” What is K1 million or K1,5 million for an artiste like me who is coming from the Copperbelt? I need fuel, I need food and I need accomodation. These guys should be serious and give artistes good money. Tulefwaya (we want) good money. What can you do in K1 million, after working very hard?” he said as he began his act on stage.

At some point, the singer displayed a sachet of a locally-produced alcoholic drink known as “Krazy Berry” that has used his image for its brand.

“Nomba tulasangwa na pa bwalwa We now promote beer brands,” he said as he drank the contents before resuming his performance.

Mubanga will also receive free benefits such as clothes, subscription at a gym, make-up and hair dressing every day. She’ll also be exposed to international modeling agencies and might land herself some jobs.

Present at the same function was winner of Zambia’s Super Model 2009, Akamandisa Inambao, who told Patricia-Ellis Pumulo of Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) TV that it would be difficult to hand over her crown.

The show started off two hours late – with visual and sound systems effects not exactly impressive. However the audience, who numbered about 500 people, seemed to have a great time as they watched “mimed “ performances by Ephraim, CQ, Lady K and Dalisoul.

In her opening remarks Sandra Ng’andu, marketing manager of British American Tobacco (BAT), said that the pageant was a platform to look for a young, intelligent and indigenous woman who would represent Zambia locally and internationally.

Zambia’s Super Model Pageant was first initiated by Cynthia Kanema in 2008, and continues to attract thousands of girls from the width and breadth of the country to compete.

The grand finale is broadcast live on ZNBC, whereas the whole series of episodes from auditions, catwalks practice, photo shoots and other tasks are a popular reality show on television.

Since its inception the Cynthia Kanema’s Search for Zambia’s Super Model has had the following lucky winners: Petita Mwanza (2008), Akamandisa Inambao (2009) and Mubanga Kalimamukwento (2010), respectively.

Cynthia Kanema lit a candle in honor of all the women who had died of cervical cancer. She appealed to the audience to inform their loved ones of the importance of early cancer diagnosis.

UK Zambians