El Mukuka is regarded by many as Zambia’s top House DJ/Producer and pioneer of the melodic house music genre in the country.His hit songs include “Bottle of loneliness“, “Somethings Coming“, “Getting there” and his latest single “Amor Mio“.

“I started producing first, at quite a young age actually, and only later got into DJing. I think being able to DJ well is critical ( in the house music genre) and although there is a new wave of international acts today that come across as being more producers than DJs, I think in order to fully understand house music you need to be proficient at both.”

The 24 year-old Zambian-Greek DJ/Producer studied at the prestigious Berklee College of Music (the largest independent college of contemporary music in the world) in Boston ,MA, USA.

“As a classically trained pianist, I like to believe that a lot of my influence/inspiration comes from genres other than house music such as world music, classical music and jazz. I believe 100% in fusion music and the only way for me to stay creative and innovative within the house music genre is by filling my artist palette with all sorts of contrasting colors.”

El Mukuka’s music can be described as uplifting, infused with African elements, rich in melody & harmony and groovy. He has played at some of the biggest festivals in sub-Saharan Africa such as the Vic Falls Carnival, R&G Oktoberfest, Barefeet Music Festival, Siavonga Music Festival and the Zanzibar B&W Festival while also playing alongside some of the top players in the region such as Goldfish, Goodluck, Joe Mfalme, Professor , Mi Casa.

KAPA187: I recently had the pleasure of attending an event that you were a part of. The Mi Casa ‘Familia’ album launch.  How was that experience?

El Mukuka: “It was a lot of fun and we had a really nice crowd that night. Mi Casa are amazing and it was a pleasure to open for them. I guess from all the times I have hung out with them or seen them play, the one characteristic I love about them the most is how they value and exemplify instrumental proficiency and musical depth.”

KAPA187:  In regards to music production, what software do you use? Do you feel there is a general over reliance in technology as opposed to physical instruments?

 El Mukuka: “I predominantly use Ableton ( a software music sequencer and digital audio workstation for macOS and Windows) and Logic (a digital audio workstation and MIDI sequencer software application for the macOS platform). Yes, for the most part I think there has been an unfortunate overwhelming shift from acoustic instruments to virtual and electronic instruments. I personally try and make an effort to incorporate at least 1 acoustic instrument in every single song of mine. I think the solution here is to embrace all the technological advancements but to mix that with real instruments because nothing beats the real thing.”

KAPA187: House music does not have a huge following in Zambia as compared to other parts of the world. What do you think needs to be done in order to grow the popularity of the genre.

El Mukuka: “Exposure and time. With the growing popularity of house music in Zambia and the emergence of new producer/DJs we need radio & TV stations to play even more house music (with an emphasis on locally produced house music) in order to educate the public. Honestly, I don’t think house music will become the dominant genre in Zambia any time soon, but from what I have seen in the last 3 years, this genre has a lot more room for growth in our market.”

KAPA187: That is true, with time the genre will grow. Do you have any tips or advice for aspiring DJ/Producers?

El Mukuka: “Find your voice, be honest with your art, work hard and believe in yourself 200% because if you don’t believe in yourself don’t expect anyone else to.”  

KAPA187: Lets talk about your music . Last week you premiered your latest single ,“Amor Mio”(meaning “my love” in Spanish), which is a collaboration with German producer Shaun Bate and Zambian songstress Marocco. Tell us more about it. 

El Mukuka: “The idea behind “Amor Mio” came early this year in a studio session in Lusaka with Marocco. A few weeks later I travelled to Berlin and met with an A&R who played a key role in developing the project by bringing Shaun Bate on board and guiding us through the completion of the song. The rest is history. I think we succeeded in writing a song that is lighthearted, witty, romantic and good for summer.”

KAPA187:  It is a very catchy song and many people are enjoying it. “Bottle of loneliness” and “Something’s coming”, both featuring your frequent collaborator Kayla Jacobs, are my favorite tracks from you. How did the collaborations with Kayla come about?

El Mukuka: “Kayla and I met at the Berklee College of Music in a song-writing class and ever since then we have been working together on a regular basis. She is now based in LA and I am mainly based here in Lusaka. She is incredibly talented and I have a lot of respect for her.”

KAPA187: Thats great , I look forward to more great tracks from the two of you. What do you usually start with when preparing for a set?

El Mukuka: “I start by identifying the kind of event I am playing at (i.e. festival performance, club gig, private party, boat party, etc) followed by the type of crowd and then lastly the time of day at which my set will be. Once I have these details in my head I can begin to plan the kind of emotions I want my set to evoke and the type of energy I want it to have.”

KAPA187: Do you have pre-show rituals that you do before a live performance? once you get going with your set do you “read the audience” or follow a fixed play list?

El Mukuka: “Many times I’ll say a quick prayer before I get on stage and that’s it.I always try to make an effort to read the audience. With that said however, there are some big gigs that require very rigid planning.”

EL Mukuka’s recent brand partnership with Heineken has accelerated the growth of the house music scene in Zambia and helped to expose Zambian house music to the world. He also recently became the first Zambian disc jockey to sign with the international record label Universal Music.

Be on the look out for more exciting releases and shows from the fast rising Dj/Producer EL Mukuka.

THE MUSIC

Amor Mio (feat Shaun Bate and Marocco)

Bottle of loniness (feat Kayla Jacobs)

Somethings Coming (feat Kayla Jacobs)

Getting there (feat Abel Chungu Musukwa)

Milena (feat Cephas Maseko)

Interact with EL Mukuka on social media:

Facebook: El mukuka

Instagram: Elmukuka

Twitter: @elmukuka

BY KAPA187

Iris’ Actions Are Pernicious to Society

Iris Kaingu’s latest stunt to publicly bare her whole body save for the covering of paint does not come as a surprise. This act just like her previous tradition defying escapades reflects the extent to which society has degenerated. While I cannot say that she is the most immoral person alive, I will fail in my Christian duty if I turned my eyes elsewhere pretending that all was well or by saying that it is none of my business. When she called for a press briefing on Sunday, 10th September, I was convinced that she was going to repent of her immoral actions. To the surprise of many, she was justifying her actions and essentially, ended up lecturing journalists on why they should report positively about her.

Will it be right therefore to agree with Iris, even for a second, that women empowerment or liberation means that they can do as they please even at the expense of society norms? Or is it true as she alleges that our forefathers used to walk about stark naked and no one cared? No, I do not agree with any of these assertions. Let me focus on the last one.

Before Adam and Eve sinned, not putting on clothes was not a problem. But that state of innocence ended when they disobeyed their maker for we read,
7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves. “Gen 3:7
Consequently, all of us as their descendants are born with that sense of shame and it becomes clear as soon as we know right from wrong. Curiously, you will never see this kind of behavior in the animal kingdom. Why? Because they never sinned. Interestingly, even an attempt by our forefathers to clothe themselves was a failure because the leaves were not sustainable. It had to take God to clothe them with animal skin. In effect, God was affirming the necessity of humans to wear clothes in public and any such departure is an affront to Him. In other words, wearing clothes to cover shame defines humanity. There is therefore no society, no matter how backward were people walk around naked and are unaffected. Granted, the level of covering may differ. The bushmen will for instance wear something just to cover their sexual organs but their society is ok with that.

When human beings begin to claim that there is nothing wrong in posing naked in public, it is an indication that mentally, there something wrong and that urgent help is needed. A story is told in Luke 8 about Jesus’ encounter with a demon possessed man:

26 They sailed to the region of the Gerasenes,[a] which is across the lake from Galilee. 27 When Jesus stepped ashore, he was met by a demon-possessed man from the town. For a long time this man had not worn clothes or lived in a house, but had lived in the tombs.

After the demons are removed, this is what we are told in Mark 5 “15 When they (the villagers) came to Jesus, they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons, sitting there, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid.

It is beyond debate that all of us must remove our clothes at one time or the other. But this is only done in the privacy of our homes or any places designated for such activities. But when one chooses to bring images that are only for consumption of themselves or those that are licensed to do so, then a redline has been crossed and consequences follow.

Iris is guilty of corrupting morals by causing her images to be publicly viewed. The Lord Jesus does not spare words when he talks about those that corrupt the morals of the public(more appropriately his children): Mark 9:42
“If anyone causes one of these little ones–those who believe in me–to stumble, it would be better for them if a large millstone were hung around their neck and they were thrown into the sea.

It cannot be argued that the publication of the pictures has led some men to sin in their hearts and otherwise. But this exposure is also an affront to the women folk who have been indirectly undressed and publicly shamed by Iris’ actions. I am made to wonder whether it has occurred to Iris that these pictures are being looked at even by people that are very close to her including her parents and siblings! It is very clear from her actions that Iris is a single woman. But which parent will be willing to allow their son to marry one who has undressed in public? God forbid that she should even have a child who would sooner rather than later be accessing the images of their mother on internet.

It may not occur to Iris that her actions are in plain view of her maker before whom she will have to give an account. That she was not suddenly struck by lightning, doesn’t mean that God is unaware or has over looked her actions. The warning is also for her accomplices (those men that worked to paint her body). They couldn’t have publicly undressed themselves but they are just as guilty as she is. When Adam was persuaded to eat of the forbidden fruit, he was found guilty of the offence even though the serpent only deceived Eve.

But is there hope for Iris to reform and become accepted before her maker? While many may condemn her, and find her inimical to society the answer is an emphatic yes.
In Isaiah 1:18 the picture is given of God’s willingness to forgive those that sin against him, no matter how vile. We read:
“Come now, let us settle the matter,”
says the Lord.
“Though your sins are like scarlet,
they shall be as white as snow;
though they are red as crimson,
they shall be like wool.

Elsewhere, in He is literally, pleading with the wayward Israelites:
Say to them: ‘As I live,’ says the Lord God, ‘I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn, turn from your evil ways! For why should you die, O house of Israel?’

There is therefore hope for Iris to turn. She needs to humble herself and denounce all the justifications of an otherwise publicly immoral life and to turn in repentance to her maker or else as the apostle says about those that refuse to repent:

“but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God.” Heb.10:27

By Kambilo Musopelo

PR Girl Media will kick-start the summer with an Oktoberfest event to be held in Lusaka on 15 & 16 September 2017. It has been a busy year for the Public relations and Event Management company who recently held the jaw-dropping ‘Lusaka July’.

This weekend, PR Girl Media has committed to showcasing some of the world’s most popular beers and festival food to celebrate the German tradition of Oktoberfest.

“Oktoberfest is a beer festival dating from the 1800s. Today, it has become a time when we celebrate with our family and friends and let our hair down for an epic party.” Said Monde Nyambe who is the Event Coordinator at PR Girl Media.

Oktoberfest Lusaka will be an annual event hosted to attract beer, food and music enthusiasts with an appreciation for premium events. “To differentiate this beer festival from the others in town, we are calling it ‘Beerville’ and creating a beer garden right in the heart of Lusaka”, stated Monde Nyambe. The event boasts of over 20 kraft and international beers to be presented and with Devil’s Peak Brewery from Cape Town being a top brewery in South Africa, it will have some of the best brews on the continent. Our very own Mosi Lager will welcome the other beers to Zambia through an interactive set of activities at the event.

Oktoberfest Lusaka promises to be a unique experience as PR Girl Media has confirmed that they will lean towards delivering an authentic celebration of the German event. Zambia’s top DJs such as DJ Hussein, El Mukuka, V Jeezy and many others will entertain the audience as they mingle in the scenic outdoor garden park of Chita Lodge in Lusaka.

Details of ‘Oktoberfest Lusaka’ can be found on PR Girl Media social media platforms.

Patriotic Front (PF) Roan Member of Parliament Chishimba Kambwili has challenged President Edgar Lungu to tell the Zambian people the source of the Presidential Empowerment Fund that is being disbursed to Marketeers across the country.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with Pan African Radio news, Dr. Kambwili says there is something sinister about the Presidential Empowerment Initiative Fund.

Dr. Kambwili says the fund which was established prior to the 2016 General elections has no track record, alleging that no one has so far explained the source of the Presidential Empowerment Initiative Fund for transparency sake and to avoid speculations.

Dr. Kambwili has since alleged that so far k10 million has been disbursed to Marketeers and he wonders how President Edgar Lungu would account for such colossal sums of money because even if the president was to give up 10 months his own salary he would not afford.

“Where is he finding the money to give marketeers because even if he is to sacrifice his salary for ten months it can’t match what he has spent so far” Kambwili asked

Meanwhile, Patriotic Front (PF) National Youth Chairperson who is also home affairs Minister Stephen Kampyongo has charged that Dr. Kambwili Should be the last person in Zambia to hold an opinion on matters of corruption as he is number one culprit.

“Kambwili should keep quiet because he is more corrupt than any individual in Government” Kampyongo said

ECZ Public Relations Manager Margaret Chimanse said the Commission was ready to conduct the elections in Itezhi Tezhi, Kanchibiya, Lavushimanda and Lunte districts including the eight Local Government byelections in Chililalila, Chitwi, Luansobe, Luntomfwe, Libonda, Mpidi Kakonga, Chimanja and Mabinga wards.

In a press statement released today, Ms Chimanse said that all the Poll staff and security personnel had been trained and have since been deployed to the various poling stations in their respective districts and wards.

Election materials have also been delivered in readiness for the elections, which will take place tomorrow Thursday, 14th September, 2017.

“The Commission would like to commend all political parties and candidates participating in the elections for conducting peaceful campaigns.

“The Commission would also like to remind all political parties and candidates to stop all campaign activities at the end of the campaign period today , September 13, 2017 at 18:00 hours,” Ms Chimanse said.

And all is set for tomorrow’s by – election for the Lunte Town Council Chairperson’s seat. District Electoral Officer Mwansa Mfula says the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has already started dispatching poll staff to conduct this Thursday’s election.

Mr. Mwansa adds that elections officials in the area are ready to conduct the election. He said Voter education has been adequately conducted in the new district adding that a huge turnout was expected during tomorrow’s polls.

All the three candidates participating in the election have expressed optimism of scooping the seat. Among the candidates are the PF’s Simon Chanda and PND’s Lazaruos Chongo.

The aspiring candidates have promised to work for the people and deliver development when voted into office. Northern Province police commissioner Richard Mweene has described the campaigns as peaceful and incident free.

He said the police in the area are hopeful that voters in Lunte will turn out in large numbers on polls day so as to elect their leader in a credible, free and fair atmosphere.