Edited by Azizi Powell
This pancocojams post presents information about kalindula, a genre of music from Zambia (South Central Africa).
This post also showcases a YouTube sound file of 1980s kalindula music by PK Chishala entitled "Na Musonda". Information about PK Chishala is included in this post along with selected comments from this sound file's discussion thread.
Thanks to PK Chishala and his group for this music. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to the publisher of this song file on YouTube.
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Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2015/06/five-examples-of-zambian-kalindula-music.html for additional examples of Zambia's kalindula music.
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INFORMATION ABOUT ZAMBIA'S KALINDULA MUSIC
Excerpt #1:
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kalindula
"Kalindula is a kind of bass guitar which gives its name to a style of popular music in southern-central Africa. It originated in the late 20th century and is popular in Zambia and is also found in Malawi and Zimbabwe. Some people claim it originated in the Democratic Republic of Congo but this cannot be fully supported by the evidence. It combines features of 20th century popular music with rhythmic and metric elements.
The kalindula musical style is characterized by an up-tempo rhythm and, in addition to the kalindula bass guitar, one or more hand-crafted guitars which are called 'banjos' (pronounced locally as 'bahn-jo'). Homemade drum sets are also used in some kalindula bands. Kalindula bands in urban areas often incorporate electric guitars, electric bass and modern drum sets into their ensembles."...
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Excerpt #2:
From https://www.musicinafrica.net/fr/node/15659 Popular music in Zambia [by] Par Reuben Silungwe, 17 aoû 2016
"Popular influences have always been part of the Zambian music since colonial times. Zambian popular music has continued to evolve and adapt to the tunes and rhythms that define popular music in both a regional and global context. This text provides an overview of popular music’s historical development, main genres and current status in Zambia.
Zambia’s popular music industry boasts several genres at different stages of development and growth. Following the rise of Zam-Rock and Kalindula pop music in the 70s and 80s, it is apparent that a lot of changes have occurred and continue to be observed. Interestingly, Zambia’s popular music landscape has managed to originate a new local sound, referred to as Zed Beats, and a variant of hip-hop referred to as Zed Hip-Hop. Other genres that still have a large following in Zambia are Kalindula, R&B, reggae/dancehall and gospel, while jazz, though not as popular, is also part of Zambia’s popular music landscape.
[...]
Kalindula
Zam-Rock was followed by the emergence of Kalindula, which offered bands such as Masasu, Serenje Kalindula Band, Junior Mulemena Boys and Amayenge, among others.
Kalindula music was popular from the 1970s through to the late 1990s. It brought with it a feeling of national unity, as evidenced by its adoption of different languages in its lyrical content and social commentary. It fostered Zambians' passion and tolerance for its many diverse cultures. For instance, PK Chishala's song ‘Na Musonda’ resonated with many people's marital challenges (and still does) and promoted the need to observe Zambia's pre-marital rituals and marriage customs.
[A sound file of PK Chishala's "Na Musonda" is embedded here.]
Kalindula music is based on folklore. For instance, the Serenje Kalindula Band was largely based on lala folklore and pop culture, PK Chishala's songs were influenced by Ushi mythology and folklore, while the Uweka Stars ' 'Grace' emanated from the Njanja folklore.
Among the most celebrated Kalindula artists and groups are PK Chishala with hits such as 'Na Musonda' and 'Pastor'. 'Kabelebele' by Masasu Band remains one of the genre’s biggest hits, while the former Glorious Band led by Jonathan Chibesa tried to bring back the glory days of Kalindula by releasing the band's breakthrough hit 'Isamboa Lya Mfwa' in 2002. Before the Glorious Band went into silence, they released four well-received albums: Isambo Lya Mfwa, Ilyashi likaya, Kula Umone and Tata mpeniko amano.
In more recent times, popular appreciation of Kalindula music has failed to dwindle into extinction. The Amayenge Cultural Ensemble has continued to churn out new songs and perform at live shows. This has served as a reminder of the important place that Kalindula popular has in the Zambian music industry. Other emerging artists include Angela Nyirenda with her famous 'Khuzwayo' and 'Chalo chiwama nawako'.
Although Kalindula fans may have dwindled since its heyday, its mark on the Zambian pop music scene remains rooted in Zambian culture and the people’s sense of national identity.
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INFORMATION ABOUT PK CHISHALA
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P._K._Chishala
"Peter Kalumba Chishala (-1995) was a prominent Zambian musician.[1] P.K. Chishala & the Great Pekachi Band were among bands leading the first wave of kalindula music along with Junior Mulemena Boys, and the Masasu Band.[2] His protest songs include "Common Man" from the fourth album Umwaume walutuku.[3][4]
References
1. Re-Presenting Disability: Activism and Agency in the Museum Richard Sandell, Jocelyn Dodd, Rosemarie Garland-Thomson - 2013 Page 59 1136616489 "... folk singer and a blind man who was not only a successful musician but the country's only disabled person to become a Minister in the Zambian government during the late 1980s, and another prominent blind musician, P. K. Chishala."
2. Simon Broughton, Mark Ellingham, Richard Trillo World Music: Africa, Europe and the Middle East 1999 - Page 704 1858286352 "The first wave of kalindula was spearheaded by Junior Mulemena Boys, P.K. Chishala & the Great Pekachi Band, the Masasu Band, Serenje Kalindula and the Oliya Band - and stimulated sufficient interest for British tours. By the late 1980s, ."
3. Leonard Koloko ZAMBIAN MUSIC LEGENDS 1470953358 2012 Page 281 "PK Chishala's fourth and last album was again a controversial piece of work, this time from a socio-cultural point of view.... Common Man (Teal Record Company, 1993) 4. p.281
4. All Africa,"Remembering P K Chishala", All Africa, 16 March 2013"
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SHOWCASE EXAMPLE: PK Chishala - Na Musonda
50kwacha, Published on Apr 13, 2010
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https://www.facebook.com/zedlyrics/posts/p-k-chishala-na-musonda-lyricsartist-p-k-chishalatitle-na-musondagenre-kalindula/473599496013005/ includes lyrics to this song. From the comment given as #2 below I think this language is Bemba, but I'm not sure. Please correct that if it is wrong. Thanks!
Also, based on some of the comments in this discussion thread, "Na Musonda" (also given as "Namusonda" is a female's name.
Selected comments from this sound file's discussion thread (with numbers added for referencing purposes only)
1. mweene hims, 2015
"My favourite PK track...Ladies, beware of Tembos. These empty "promisers" are only going to destroy that stable r/ship you have going. Run away as fast as you can when you see one. The wise ones with get the message
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I gather that "Tembo" is the name of the other man (the butcher) in this song.
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REPLY
2. Teezy Waves, 2019
"Mmmm I'm sure you are a bemba
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3. Mualimu Mfumu Mathukulu, 2015
"I like Zambian kalindula music but I don't understand the language, what is the message in this song?"
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REPLY
4. TUNDU MATABULA, 2015
"@Mualimu Mfumu Mathukulu a woman who used to live in the village with her husband and her husband got a job in a better place. Before leaving the mother to the woman warned her that becareful of the men where you're going especially butchers. when the husband got a job in an good town the woman. the woman didn't listen to her mother she went to a butchery and they started flirting the butcher then the butcher tested the woman and told her to kill her husband so that they can be together after the woman successfully killed her husband by poisoning him she went to the butcher and told she did the butcher was really shocked and he told the woman that what you have done you can also do it to me if you find another man so go your own live me alone"
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5.Samuel Mountains Phiri, 2016
"World class music from a world class artist"
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6. Kalunga Kunda, 2018
"I really enjoy kalindula music our on music culture"
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7. Simwale Cornelius, 2018
"one professor chishala-so creative wisdom singing/talking about wives who do not appreciate what the husband has but admire other men"
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8. Israel Aaron Shikur kasale silavwe, 2019
"This is our real own zambian music . . I love it"
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9. Cynthia Lungu, 2019
"PK, it’s 2019 and you still legend❤️"
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