Mwembe Muntu
About Mwembe Muntu
IT MAYBE a far-cry now from their days as the irresistible Black Muntu (Leo Bweupe and Mwembe Chulu) but perhaps how they wish they could rewind the times, particularly Leo Muntu! It is clear that Leo Muntu still misses those days when the Black Munthu were among the most sought after local musicians on the local front together with the likes of Shatel, who it must be said, made Mondo Music such as a household name. Following their break-up though, things have not been necessarily a roller-coaster for both Leo and Mwembe since they went their solo ways. Both have been able to release their respective projects, with some success although not on the levels of Chi Beibe, Mayo Wandi, Chani Gwila, It’s Okay and Wisakamana. That is not to say they have not had any success. Mwembe Muntu scored fairly well with Ngayaposa Kukosa and Vobweleka while Leo Muntu did equally make an impression with Wilalila, Ndakutakisha Kubanandi featuring the overly talented Alice Chuma and Bubu Gaga. The pair at times do play together, but of the two, it is Leo Muntu who is more of a regular face on stage. Is he certainly missing those days when they were the darling of the music scene? Perhaps! Either way, Leo Muntu and perhaps the Black Muntu do still have something to offer to the industry, or at least to the music fans. Last Friday was testament to that! Still possessing that deep voice which has endeared him so well with the ladies, he came to Break Point in Lusaka’s Kabwata area, for a performance alongside Petersen Zagaze. If the reception he received from the crowd there is anything to go by, then even him should now be thinking of performing more frequently. He came to the stage armed with songs they did as Black Muntu and those he did as a soloist, and they all got a warm reception. If anything, the reception he received at Break Point does prove that although most of the music being produced by the current crop of musicians is bubblegum, fans do yearn for them after some time. Unfortunately, the tendency locally, particularly by radio stations and entertainment spots to play only the latest, which in the end leads to a burn-out of the songs, is counter-productive. See what will happen with B1’s much-heralded song Perfecto in a few weeks time. Already, some people are getting fed-up. Anyhow, that is a digression. But talking about Break Point last Friday, there was also Petersen (Mukubesa Mundia), who, since entering the Zambian music scene in 2002, has been a huge success all the way. Starting as a songwriter and backing vocalist for the likes of Ba Crazy (Goodnight), Bob Mabege (Poor Finishing), Mwembe Muntu (Ngayaposa Kukosa and Vobweleka) among others, he was ready to launch on his own in 2005. Since then, it has been an excess of hit songs such as Munyaule, Oh No, Body Girl, Promise, Wedding Day, Bobojani, Nilabeko, Munyaule Nafuti, Anyandule, Musiye Atopinge, Love Yapa Phone and Stoga. With such a rich list of songs, Petersen always has the luxury of asking fans during a performance to choose which songs they want. Always, they get spoilt for choice, and Break Point was no exception.
Taken from Last.fm
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