B Flow, Kan2 Rock Kitwe With Triple V Concert

B Flow on stage

By Paul Shalala

It is a song that made him famous, no wonder he has made it his theme song at every performance.

And the song always sends crowds into a frenzy.

The song which B Flow did with Judy Yo titled "Cry of Woman" is a crowd puller.

The song, which features Judy Yho, has won both artists awards for its message against gender based violence.

On Tuesday, the Lusaka-based artist perfomed at Wusakile Grounds in Kitwe and youths sung along word for word.

B Flow, real name Brian Bwembya, is on a countrywide tour, this time he is not promoting his latest release, his mission is voter sensitization.

And his target group is the youth.

His message is to encourage youths to verify their voter details starting 15 May and avoid violence during campaigns ahead of this year’s general election on 11 August.

The tour is being spearheaded by the Young Women in Action under the project Triple V.

“Triple V is a campaign where we are telling young people that your Vote is your Voice and your Victory. We want youths to speak through their vote to effect social change and improve things in society, said B Flow in an interview.

For this multi-award winning artist, these Triple V concerts are part of his Music4Change project which was even endorsed by US President Barack Obama last year during the Mandela Washington Fellowship Presidential Summit in Washington, D.C.

Kan2 sensitising school girls on stage in Kitwe

“Music4Change is a social movement is use to change people’s behavior. It is there to amplify what others are doing. In this case, Music4Change is amplifying the aim of Triple V and sensitizing youths to avoid violence, to vote in large numbers and ensure that they shape this nation’s destiny.”

Another artist on this tour is Kan2 who shot to firm with her 2014 hit alangizi in which she called for traditional counselors to give advise to young couples.

Kan2 sings mostly on social issues and her involvement in the Triple V concerts fits into her type of music.

“Am combining my art in music and my job as a teacher to sensitise the young. You know, youths like seeing musicians perform and in our performances, we are fusing in messages to inspire them to vote, said Kan 2 whose real names are Kantu Habanji Siachingili

These concerts are also an opportunity for upcoming artists in the compounds to showcase their talent.

During the Triple V concert in Wusakile, several young people took to the stage to show their rapping skills.

The best for upcoming rappers won themselves Triple V branded t-shirts.

For the promoters of the Triple V concerts, music is the most effective way of communication especially for the youth.

Part of the crowd in Kabwe

“We have realized that using popular artists to spread the is the best way to catch youths. They love these celebrities and when they see them sing, dance and say one or two words, youths wont forget the message they are putting across,” said Precious Matantilo, Triple V Programme Coordinator.

On Tuesday, B Flow and Kan2 performed in Kitwe and the following day they were in Ndola.

On Thursday, the two artists continued with their sensitisations in Kabwe where they performed at Makululu’s Comet Grounds, a vene which is familiar to B Flow who grew up in the former mining town.

Yesterday, the duo was in the tourist capital Livingstone where they mesmerised the crowds again.

In the coming weeks, the musicians will continue spreading the good news in Central, Lusaka and Southern Provinces.

Paul Shalala Selected For 2016 Mandela Washington Fellowship

Paul Shalala

The US State Department has selected Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) reporter Paul Shalala as a 2016 Mandela Washington Fellow.

Mr Shalala will be among a thousand young African leaders who will spend six months at US universities and institutions being mentored in public management, civic leadership and business and entrepreneurship.

Over 1,500 youths in Zambia applied for the fellowship and about 200 were interviews from which 41 were selected to travel to the USA in June for the fellowship.

The fellowship starts on 17th June and ends on 4th August.

According to a letter by US Ambassador to Zambia Eric Schulz to Mr Shalala, the ZNBC journalist will be among the youths who will also attend the Presidential Summit which President Barack Obama will host in Washington at the end of the fellowship in August.

Mr Schulz says Mr Shalala was successful in his interviews hence the reason the State Department offered him a place as a fellow.

And the Mandela Washington Team has disclosed that Mr Shalala will do his fellowship at Syracuse University in New York.

In an emailed statement, the team said Mr Shalala will study public management at the university and his placement is final and it cannot be changed.

Prominent among people who studied at Syracuse University are US Vice President Joe Biden and former US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright.

Mr Shalala applied for the Mandela Washington Fellowship in November 2015.

In February 2016, he was interviewed by the US Embassy.

His application for the public management track was based on his job experience at Zambia’s state broadcaster ZNBC.

He also profiled his award-winning blog The Zambian Analyst (www.paulshalala.blogspot.com) which he hopes can help him inform the public through his news and analytical pieces before, during and after the August 11 general elections this year.

Since 2014, thousands of young African leaders have undergone mentorship under the Mandela Washington Fellowship which President Obama is implementing under his Young African Leaders Initiative.

Prominent among Zambians who have undergone this fellowship are media personalities Luyando Hangala, Kenny Tonga, Patience Chisanga and Raphael Kumwenda, hip hop artist Brian ‘B Flow’ Bwembya, Governance expert Isaac Mwanza, and many other youths.

Meanwhile, the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation is excited about Mr Shalala’s selection for this year’s Mandela Washington Fellowship.

ZNBC Corporate Affairs Manager Masuzyo Ndhlovu says the selection has been well received by management.

Triple V Campaign Launched To Discourage Apathy In 2016 Polls

By Paul Shalala

B Flow performing at a Triple V event in Kabwe

A consortium of Zambian civil society organisations has launched the Triple V Campaign to encourage young men and women to turn up in huge numbers and cast their votes during the 2016 general elections.

Triple V is a short form for My Vote, My Voice, My Victory.

The campaign, which is being spearheaded by the Zambia National Women's Lobby, Operation Young Vote, Anti-Voter Apathy Project and the Young Women in Action, will see a series of countrywide public events such as road shows and meetings to encourage more people to vote.

This campaign comes at a time when Zambia has seen some of its lowest voter turn out in parliamentary by-elections held this year.

Macky 2 sensitising the public in Chipata

The donor funded campaign has so far held public meetings in Chipata and Kabwe.

On the official launch of the campaign in Chipata on 5th September, local rapper Macky 2 mesmerised the crowds with music which was punctuated by messages of encouragement for young people to vote.

 "Never take everything for granted. Appreciate every opportunity that you have in life. We are here to educate you on how to involve yourselves in the governance of the country. On 14th September you should register to become a voter. You should always remember that voting is your right and vote for whoever you want. Voting is a secret," said Macky 2.

Macky 2 was later joined on stage by popular comedian Bikiloni who charmed the crowds with his mouth watering jokes.

Bikiloni in action in Chipata

In his trademark Nyanja jokes, Bikiloni occasionally picked members of the crowd and asked them questions while hammering home the message.

And on 3rd October, the Triple V Campaign shifted to Kabwe where Comet Grounds in Africa's second largest slum Makululu was brough to a standstill.

Fresh from a three months stint as a 2015 Mandela Washington Fellow in the US, B Flow sensitised the public on the need for them to register as voters and turn up in huge numbers to elect their new MPs, Councillors and President next year.

B Flow, whose real name is Brian Bwembya, is a musician who focuses on social issues such as Gender Based Violence and gender equality through his #Music4Change project which US President Barack Obama even acknowledged during his Town Hall with the 2015 Mandela Fellows a month ago.

B Flow charming the crowd in Kabwe

The Triple V Campaign has enlisted a number of famous comedians, musicians and personalities to attract more people to their countrywide meetings as they sensitise the public on the need to avoid apathy in 2016.


The campaign will in the coming months hold similar sensitisations in Kitwe, Choma and Mongu before the end of this year.

The Electoral Commission of Zambia is currently registering new voters and replacing voters cards for those who lost or damaged their previous cards.

The exercise, which commenced on 14 September, is expected to end on 11 November but it will continue at District Councils countrywide until end of March 2016.

Zambia is next year scheduled to hold a general election where Members of Parliament, Councillors and a President will be elected.

B Flow Storms Hollywood, Records Soundtrack For A Movie

By Paul Shalala

B Flow with producer Thom Russo

Zambia's multi-award winning rapper B Flow has stormed the world acclaimed Hollywood and recorded a soundtrack for a forthcoming movie.

B Flow, whose real name is Brian Bwembya, recorded the soundtrack for a forthcoming movie which stars Dannish superstar Thomas Buttenschon.

The Zambian artist visited Hollywood last week at the invitation of 16 time Grammy award winning producer Thom Russo.

This is what B Flow wrote on his Facebook page about the visit: "I was INVITED by Michael Jackson's Producer Mr Thom Russo. Am talking about a man who has won 16 GRAMMY AWARDS for producing artists like Michael Jackson, Baby Face, Jay-Z, John Travolta, Faith Evans and a lot more on albums that went platnum selling between 1 million and 20 million copies worldwide per album."

He also revealed that during the visit, he also recorded some songs for his forthcoming album.

B Flow at the UN Headquaters in New York

"We also have two songs for my 4th album. Again allow me to stress that am NOT paying any money for these songs. Thom Russo is producing them for free as a gift to me because he thinks am doing a great job back in Africa because am using my talent for a good cause. I will soon post some video clips from the studio plus much more," he added.

B Flow is among 21 young Zambians who are in the USA for the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders.

At the end of July, B Flow will be among thousands of African young fellows who are expected to meet US President Barack Obama in Washington for a Presidential Summit which is the highlight of the fellowship.

During the six weeks fellowship, B Flow is based Wagner College in New York where he is learning Civic Leadership but occassionally travels across the US for music-related engagements.

Luckily for the rapper, he has been granted a further six weeks to do internship within New York.