Amayenge
Amayenge is a pop group in Zambia that belongs to the Zambian guitar-plucking style Kalindula and is rooted in the traditional music of the call-and-answer style .
The group started in Choma with Kris Chali in 1978. At that time they were still called Crossbones . When Chali died on May 30, 2003, the group took Fraser Chilembo on as spiritus rector . Amayenge received a lot of attention far beyond Zambia.
One reviewer wrote: “Amayenge dominated the Zambian music scene for nearly 25 years, tasting all 73 tribes and making the entire nation feel like they swing with her. It is undoubtedly the most accomplished and successful group in Zambian music history. "
Kalindula is a Zambian style of music that was once played on so-called banjos , self-made guitars, a four-string bass, the mbabadoni or kalindula , ngomas , the drum, chisekele (rattles, pumpkins) and metal bells. Today the banjos have been replaced by guitars and the drums by drums.
The current line-up of the group: Alice Chali (dancer / singer), Obert Chali (singer / dancer), Emmanuel Kayeji (singer / dancer), Bester Mudenda (dancer / singer), Jonathan Nthanga (lead guitar), Mathews Mulenga (rhythm guitar), Joseph Mwamba (drums), Davy Muthali (percussion), Chabala Chitambo (percussion), Donald Njovu (percussion), Eddy Moto (sound engineer), Sam Chiluba (bass). Fraser Chilembo is the group's manager.
Discography
- 1979: Ukuilondola ("May I introduce myself", single)
- 1989: Amayenge (Brentford, Middlesex, England: Mondeca Records, LP)
- 1991: Phone (Ndola, Zambia: Teal Records, cassette)
- Ichupo Ne n'ganda ("Marriage and a Home")
- 2001: Amayenge, Part 1 (Lusaka, Zambia: Mondo Music Corp, CD)
- 2004: Dailesit (the last album recorded with Kris Chali before his death)
- 2005: Mangoma Kulila ("The drums echo")
- Chipolopolo
- Bangwele
- Matenda
... several other singles
Unique pieces from Amayenge can be found on the following issues:
- 1983, 2004: Zambush, Vol. 1 (Zambian hits from the 1980s, Utrecht, Netherlands: SWP Records, CD)
- 1989: Zambiance (CD)
- 2002: Sounds of Zambia, Volume 3 (Lusaka, Zambia: Mondo Music Corp, CD)
Awards
- 2005: Ngoma Awards Festival, Best Band Award (received this award for the sixth time)
- 1993: Best Band of the Year - declared by the Zambia International Trade Fair Show