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SINCE the days of old, a number of female Zambian musicians have proved their mettle by making a mark on both the local and international music scenes.
Names that come to mind include the irrepressible Dorothy Masuka who was in the same mould as the South African golden voice Miriam Makheba.
Others of note include Germany based Anna Mwale, Jane Osborne and in recent times Marsha Moyo of the Dark Child fame.
Blessed with a seductive, contralto vocal is singer Marsha Moyo. Born in Lusaka Zambia on 11 July 1970, Marsha entered the music industry in 2002 with her acclaimed debut album Dark Child (Sheer Sound/Sony). Yet, her passion for the arts is as old as she can remember. Recalling Joan Baez as the first vocalist she ever heard and raised on other such greats as Nina Simone and Aretha Franklin, Marsha delivers her trademark deep vibrato onto eclectic genres of
Soul, Jazz, RnB, and Pop. She describes her sound as one that is fortunate to have been under the great counsel of singers who let you really feel music. Critics agree, as noted by the success of the Dark Child album on which she penned and composed 13 of the 14 songs.
For the soullaced title track, Marsha received a South African Music Award (SAMA) nomination for ‘Best African Artist’
2003, two KORA All Africa Music Award nominations for ‘Best Female Artist-Southern Africa’ and ‘Revelation of the Year’
2003 for the racy pop Heaven’s Watching, while her Afro-centric multi-lingual dance Pamodzi, is on a Radio France
Internationale (RFI) compilation CD Tropiques.
Recently, another Zambian musician Bwalya Chimfwembe, based in Germany is striving to carry on the age-old tradition with the release of her album Te Ke La.
Born in Zambia “sometime ago,” Bwalya, according to her website was raised under the influence of a rich African culture where rhythm, song and dance is held in very high esteem.
Bwalya grew up in a large family of eleven and at an early age, she discovered African music and its various varieties such as Soul and Jazz.
The influence of this kind of music is apparent in her various songs that are available on her Internet website www.bwalya.de/.
Her start in Germany has seen her mature into an accomplished stage performer sharing the stage with greats in the show business like Shirley Bassey, The Three Degrees, Manu Dibango, Jennifer Rush and George McRae.
Bwalya says she is inspired and enchanted by Africa’s golden voices of Salif Keita and Tabu Ley.
Her Te Ke La album includes songs like PikiPiki, Mawe, TeKeLa, Balila Nzala, Sensela, Seka Seka, Pesa, Abena Fyalo and Sitaki.
Another female Zambian artiste making people in foreign lands dance the nights away is Finland-based Bina Nkwazi.
Bina first performed in a group called Band-It formed in Kitwe, around 1987. The first Lead Vocalist was Francina
‘Frankie’ McDonald. She left for UK 1990 and Bina joined the Band to fill the void. The Band was practically terminated at the end of 1994 and Bina left for Finland for a short tour. The reception she received was superb and preparations soon started for a new era of her musical career in Finland.
Early version of Band-It included Rob Coombes (Electric and Acoustic Guitars and Vocals), Robin Kinnear (Bass,
Electric Guitar and Vocals), Robbie Centonze (Drums and Vocals), Brian Sice (Bass), Dimitri Klironomos (Electric and
Acoustic Guitars plus Vocals) and Juha Kormano handling the electric and Bass guitars.
The composition of Band - It was changing through the years, but perhaps the longest serving and also the final set- up were the following: Bina -Vocals, Dimitri Klironomos (Guitars, Vocals), Rob Coombes (Guitars, Vocals), Jones (Drums),
Hubert (Alto Saxophone), Isaac Mukunta (Keyboards, Alto Sax), Brian Sice (Bass guitar) and Juha Kormano on the electric guitars.
Bina Nkwazi’s voice is shocking, powerful and explosive! The masterly manner in which she so brilliantly performs has made people ask: “Who is this girl and where is she coming from?”
Bina was first heard in Finland during the Pori Jazz Festival where she managed to win her audience once and for all.
The overwhelming reception she had, made her consider the possibility of trying her wings in the Northern hemisphere and that is how she later arrived in Finland to start a new era in her music. “Ambassador Hannu Ikonen, The First
Secretary Seppo Kuusiniemi and the Finnish Embassy Staff in Lusaka helped me a great deal in which case I would like to send my sincere thanks,” she says.
She has been a guest artist in many other bands and Big Band Orchestras including Manhattan Big Band (USA), UMO
Jazz Orchestra, Pori Big Band (with James Moody), Trio Tˆyke‰t, Loop Treatment etc. She has been a guest on the albums of various other artists and groups including the Edea album, which went on to win Finland’s overall Eurovision

contest.
Today, Bina is well established in Finland, having her band (Bina Band) which tours with her around the country’s music venues, and particularly summertime, where they perform in various music and art festivals.
The album Bina was released by Rockadillo and the new album As Sure As The Sun is out now.