Shalawambe release first album in 18 years

SHALAWAMBE, one of Zambia’s best-selling Kalindula bands, has released its first album in almost two decades.
The new album, its sixth that is titled ‘Kula Umone’, to be marketed by the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC), comes 18 years after they released ‘Chupo’.
While many renowned kalindula bands of the 80s have gone into oblivion, Shalawambe, under the guidance of Emmanuel Dolenzy Kabwe and his younger brother Julius Chanda, has had the energy to continue.
“The album was officially released last month and its marketing was initially done during the Trade Fair (Zambia International Trade Fair). It is being marketed by ZNBC which has also compiled all our songs from the old albums,” Dolenzy told the Weekend Mail in an interview.
Following the death of Ricky Chota (guitar/vocals), Claude Kabwe (bassist) and Gerald Bwalanda (keyboards and percussion), Shalawambe had challenges in moving on.
Dolenzy says it was difficult to find suitable replacements as the old members who died were experienced and knew what Shalawambe Band stood for.
The band was more or less a family affair of three brothers and a cousin. The brothers were Dolenzy, Claude and Julius while the cousin was Ricky and the non-family member was Gerald.
However, Shalawambe has since recruited new members: Clement Chilufya (lead vocals), Wise Mtonga (rhythm guitar) and Timothy Mwape (bass).
“The new album is purely a kalindula music album and the message is about social issues which happen in society and people are able to connect with most of our new songs,” Dolenzy explains while naming some of the songs on the album as ‘Kula Umone’, ‘Mary Kwangabwe’, ‘Chancer’, ‘Matai’, ‘Bana Chomba’, ‘Kuwawaya’, ‘Ndekutolela We Lasa’ and a remix of ‘Chupo’.
The band’s first album was titled ‘Shalawambe’, released in 1988 by Teal Record Company. A breakaway from the Zambia National Service (ZNS) outfit Green Labels, they first released their single ‘Kamusisi’ under Teal Records.
At that time, they used to combine farming and music in Luanshya’s Fisenge area while rehearsing at Zambia After Six, a popular pub in Fisenge Farming Block and held shows at Kosapo Bar in Luanshya’s Mikomfwa.
Shalawambe is also known for the song Samora Machel, released under Mondeca, UK in 1989, a tribute to late Mozambique president who died at the height of the liberation struggle in Southern Africa

Icupo Cha Kulala pa Mpapa

Abantu Balafwa

(Daily mail)