Zambian born, Australia-based singer/song writer Sampa The Great has received rave reviews for her performance at the Splendour in the Grass, an Australian Festival held in the Byron Bay, New South Wales.
The festival, organised as a gathering to cater for Australia’s winter season, a period that had traditionally been associated with very few events of this nature, is considered as one of Australia’s largest winter music festivals.
The festival is reported to have succeeded in pulling off one memorable live music event out in Byron Bay.
“Providing a line-up of artistes representing some of the best touring musicians Australia has at the minute, not to mention some incredible international visitors, Splendour was more than just a playground for triple j legionnaire hat-wearing fans; it was a weekend where house music could exist alongside alt-country and bluegrass through the same afternoon, where an Icelandic post-rock trio could headline on a Sunday night and send the audience into the night to finish partying ,with one of the world’s biggest homegrown producers,” the AU Review, an independent online publication for new music, arts, food, reported.
The publication says while it was impossible to be at every stage for all artistes, there were some undeniable highlights at Splendour.
“Friday afternoon brought Sampa The Great to the Mix Up Tent for one of the most confidently delivered and sharply executed sets of the day. The Sydney-based vocalist and writer had the crowd involved and responding to each call out on cue, not to mention feeling some heavy grooves as she worked her way around those impressive rhymes we’ve been associating with Sampa over the past year,” it wrote.
“With a huge grin on her face and the sass to match, Sampa The Great’s position as one of the Australian hip hop scene’s most intriguing and exciting young artists moving forward has well and truly been solidified in 2016 – this festival set just went and proved it.”
It was not just the AU Review waxing lyrical about Sampa The Great’s performance at the festival, TheMusic.com, an integrated media network published by Street Press Australia Pty Ltd, equally did the same.
“As the nation begins to recover from another epic Splendour in the Grass, we thought it best to recap the standout bands and life-changing lessons the 2016 event delivered,” the publication writes.

Born in Zambia and raised in Botswana, Sampa Tembo found a love for hip-hop at an early age, carrying it with her as she travelled and studied. Her upbringing and life experience inform her lyrics, which cover political and societal imbalances in a meaningful way, tackling heavy themes with a light touch. It’s a quality that runs through her recent debut release The Great Mixtape, produced by fellow Sydney-sider Godriguez. Rather than using his work merely as a soapbox, Sampa delicately entwines her poetry through each beat, playfully switching styles to ensure it engages you on every level.
Like her many influences – both musical and political – Sampa hopes to inform and inspire, delivering her message in a way that is bold yet inclusive. “I’m great,” she proclaims, not as a boast but instead a rallying call. “You’re great. We’re great.”

In the vain of un-announced releases Sampa dropped 2 Soundcloud uploads ‘Blue Boss’ (Hitting #1 on Hype Machine and picked up by Annie Mac on BBC Radio 1, Reaching 1 Million Spotify plays in 2 months) & ‘Black Dignity’ added to Triple J Rotation. Her collaboration with Urthboy & Okenyo spawned the single ‘Second Heartbeat’ in early 2016. In March her collaboration with REMI ‘For Good’ hit the Triple J airwaves.
Sampa has won over a wave of adoring fans having been chosen to support Kendrick Lamar, Thundercat, Hiatus Kaiyote, Ibeyi, Little Simz and Fat Freddy’s Drop along with her sold out headline shows and festival slots at Golden Plains, Sugar Mountain, WOMAD & VIVID Live.

THE MUSIC

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BY KAPA187

Mr Hichilema who spoke at a media briefing held at his house around 22:40hrs Sunday, said the G12 sheet is the only proscribed document which is the legal requirement used for recording ” the will of the people.”

He said nothing can replace the G12 document which is supposed to be used to authenticate the results and that the document was deliberately left out in Lusaka so that the ECZ in collusion with the ruling PF can wait for results from other provinces and use the Lusaka vote to compensate for any deficits.

He wondered how G12 can not be available in Lusaka where the ECZ is located adding that some polling stations are a stone’s throw from ECZ offices.

He explained that the omission was a deliberate move made to secure votes for the PF saying events in some polling stations point to that fact.

He further claimed that PF cadres took over polling stations shortly after the close of polling further adding that some cadres were voting more than twice while others went to vote with premarked ballots in their pockets.

He also accused the ECZ of trying to promote instability in the country by colluding with the PF to take away the decision of Zambians.

Mr Hichilema has since vowed not accept the results describing the process and results as a coup on democracy by those who control the army.

He said he will fight for Zambians and called on well meaning Zambians to fight with him.

And President Edgar Lungu of the Patriotic Front has maintained the lead in Presidential Election Results from 132 constituencies out of the 156 constituencies country wide.

Electoral Commission of Zambia -ECZ- Chairperson Justice Esau Chulu has so far announced that Mr. Lungu has 1,454,165.

His closest rival Hakainde Hichilema of United Party for National Development now has 1,383,594

The margin stands at 70,571 votes

ECZ is yet to announce results from 24 constituencies and the next update is scheduled at 06:30 hours this morning.

Ms Nawakwi who said during a media briefing Sunday that it was surprising that she was getting zero votes even in places were she has relatives.

Ms Nawakwi who was the only woman on the ballot wondered how possible it was for her party to get zeroes in some constituencies where they had structures.

She said that in Kaputa her count at the constituency had been put at 276 but the tallying national result reflected at 196.

“Are you telling me that even in Mwenzo where I was born where my father lives I can get zero votes? In Mungwi where during a recent by-election we had a decent haulage of results can we get zero? Even in Munali here where we have structures do you think we can get zero? Where have all these people evaporated to?

“Even all our structures people who run our offices could not have voted for us. So I think there is someone moving my results taking them to another candidate. Where are my results going? I have told you about Kaputa, Msanzala and even in Munali so I do not think the results are a true reflection of what is going on,” he said.

She also said that once the elections have passed the country should seriously embrace the electronic transmission of results.

Ms Nawakwi said if results were being transmitted electronically the process may have long been closed.

The PF says the UPND should be blamed for the delay in the announcing of presidential results due to their hypocritical behavior.

PF Secretary General Davies Chama said the UPND is holding the country at ransom because they are questioning every result in which they have lost.

He said the nation and the ECZ are being held by the throat by the UPND who have continued to question the results in PF strongholds while the PF candidate was not questioning the results in UPND where he noted that in some cases PF was getting zero in polling stations.

He said the UPND wants to create an impression that there is confusion when in fact they are the ones who want to cause the confusion.

He said everytime PF takes a lead then their people starts to throw tantrums while no one is doing that when they take a lead.

And Frank Bwalya the the Deputy Spokesperson of the PF said the behavior of UPND President Hakainde Hichilema who stormed the totalling centre was uncalled for.

He said Mr Hichilema wanted to create a situation where he gets beaten by the police so that he can claim that the elections were not free and fair.

Meanwhile the UPND leader described the delay in announcing the results as “crap”.

He said what ECZ was doing was crap because the results should have been announced by Friday as it takes less than 3hrs to count 800 ballots in one stream.

Earlier, a visibly annoyed HH angrily stormed Mulungushi international conference center in the presence of GBM and ousted MMD President Nevers Mumba demanding that the ECZ completes announcing the results with insinuations that he had won the presidential race.

HH has since demanded an urgent meeting with the ECZ.

Meanwhile, Patriotic Front (PF) candidate Edgar Lungu, attended a church service at a small Pentecostal congregation in Bauleni township.

President Lungu, who traveled incognito with a small staff detail, was accompanied to the Eastgate Revival Centre church by the First Lady Mrs Esther Lungu.

And speaking after the service, Special Assistant for Press and Public Relations Amos Chanda said that President Edgar Lungu is headed for an outright victory. Mr Chanda said that State House will wait for the official declaration to be made by the Electoral Commission of Zambia.

And President Edgar Lungu has called on Zambians to allow the will of the people to prevail in the aftermath of the August 11th general election.

And President Lungu has declared that he will accept any final results that will be released by the ECZ.

The President says it is by the will of God that he has been in State House.

President says the will of God must prevail because God speaks through the people.

He says all people should hold their emotions

The Head of State was speaking at a Church Service at East Gate Revival centre at Bauleni on Sunday.

The President was accompanied by the First Lady Esther and his special assistant for Press and Public Relations Amos Chanda.

And Reverend Sainti Phiri in his sermon said the difference in political opinion should divide the nation.

Reverend Phiri says the winners and loses should embrace and ensure that they do not lose focus of humanity because Zambia is bigger than any individual.

In the latest results released from 69 constituencies, PF candidate Edgar Lungu is at 699,960 while UPND candidate Hakainde Hichilema is at 644,132

THE United Party for National Development (UPND) on Saturday evening filed an urgent Court matter to stop the release of the final results and sought to have 3 officials suspended.

The three officials are the Chief Electoral Officer Priscilla Isaac Mulenga, Deputy IT Director Brown Kasaro and IT Specialist Theresa Phiri.

The Lusaka High Court refused to grant a stay to stop the release of results but set Wednesday next week as a day of inter-party hearing.

The petition against the Electoral Commission of Zambia was filed by Martha Mushipe, Lukona Chambers, and Jack Mwiimbu.

They sought Judicial Review Proceedings on Saturday night.

Earlier in the day the UPND wrote a letter claiming that 3 officers it cited in the letter should be suspended by the Commission. in the letter the party also petitioned the ECZ to stop the transmission of election results electronically.

In a letter to the ECZ signed by secretary-general Stephen Katuka, the UPND sought to stop the transmission of results alleging that they were manipulated by unauthorised people

When the Electoral Commission of Zambia(ECZ) did not respond to their letter, the party sought a court order for a judicial review.

The party also sought to stop the 3 officials to act in their capacity.

The party also sought that the release of results be halted until the petition was heard.

But Judge Florence Lengalenga has allowed by the court to hear the matter but refused to stay or grant an Order to have them leave the Commission.

Judge also refused any Order to stop the release of results.

Judge Lengalenga has stated that their should be no interruption in the release of results.

The ECZ has continued to give and release results to the country.

Meanwhile, Patriotic Front (PF) deputy spokesperson Frank Bwalya has wondered why the opposition party is always jittery, especially when results favour the ruling party.

And PF Secretary General Davies Chama has said that it was shocking that the opposition United Party for National Development (UPND) is already planning to petition the general elections even before the winner is declared.

Mr Chama said in an interview yesterday that the PF cannot stop the UPND from taking court action over the presidential elections because the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) and the ruling party will defend themselves.

“It is unfortunate that someone is already planning that ‘I will go to court’ even before the announcement of final results. We cannot stop them but the courts will look at the merits of the case,” he said

The latest results after 52 constituencies have UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema in the narrow lead with 514,816 and PF candidate Edgar Lungu with 511,386 in the second place. FDD candidate Edith Nawakwi has 7,440

THE Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has dismissed reports circulating on social media that director Priscilla Isaac has been suspended.

ECZ spokesperson Crispin Akufuna said in an interview yesterday that contrary to the reports, Ms Isaac remains at the helm of the commission.

“You saw her didn’t you? If she was suspended, she would not have been here

Today’s Scripture

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”

(Philippians 4:6, NASB)

Anxious for Nothing

So many people today are living uptight, worried and anxious about the future, filled with frustration and concern. In the natural there may be good reason, but understand, living that way is not God’s best. God doesn’t want us to be filled with anxiety and frustration; He wants us to live in peace. You can find rest in Him knowing that no matter what is happening around you, God Almighty has His hand on you.

The next time you’re tempted to worry or be anxious about something, remember this verse. God invites us to come to Him. In fact, the Bible says He rewards those who diligently seek Him. But notice, we can’t just come to Him any old way. He wants us to come to Him with a heart of gratitude and thanksgiving. Begin by simply saying, “Father in heaven, thank You for the privilege to come before You. Thank You for hearing my prayers.” As you come to Him with an open and humble heart, He will hear you and fill you with His peace and joy to live free from anxiety all the days of your life!

A Prayer for Today

“Heavenly Father, today I choose to be anxious for nothing. I choose to set aside my worries and concerns. I thank You for Your faithfulness to meet every need in my life in Jesus’ name. Amen.”