Voice Over Artist, Radio and Television Presenter, Master of Ceremonies, Recording Artist, Social Activist, Columnist and Business Man - "Red Bull" has nothing on Chilu Lemba.
Chilungu Lemba was born on 27 August 1975 in Lusaka Zambia. His definitive childhood years where spent in different Zambian towns and cities among them Livingstone, Ndola and Mkushi. He'd developed a love for the arts at an early age. At twelve, he was a member of the cast that emerged winners in the Southern Provincial Primary School drama category.
The first rap recording that Chilu did was on a home stereo system almost twenty years ago - a collaboration with his elder brother Sitwala. Later in life, Chilu's musical exploits were acknowledged and rewarded: in 1991 he was honoured at the Chengelo Secondary School Music Awards Ceremony receiving the school's annual Music Award. During the summer of that year Chilu and two of his brother's had gate-crashed a rap workshop that was held by Norman Cook (now known as Fatboy Slim) and his then group Beats International. The group encouraged the delegates to be more 'African' in their music presentation prompting Chilu to later adopt a new rap alias -'King Bongo'. A couple of years later he teamed up with popular TV personality Alan Mvula to record Zambia Moto (translated meaning 'Zambia Fire') a song that Chilu wrote at the age of seventeen. It went on to receive massive airplay on local radio. At the time Chilu who had since done away with the 'King' prefix of his pseudonym was also a member of The Man X Crew - a four man act with whom he recorded and marketed a cassette single titled 'Keep Moving"- selling copies to mostly friends and family.
Before his twenty first birthday, Chilu joined newly established Radio Phoenix FM in Zambia as a budding presenter. A young Chilu hosted his own slot, called "The Fruit Juice Show" featuring heavy amounts of hip hop, pop, Jungle music as well as showcasing local - and occasionally - international artists. Then, in 1997, Chilu was appointed Acting Station Manager of Radio Phoenix. A year later, after a productive stint in management, he decided to leave Radio Phoenix and become a full time college student. Chilu enrolled at the AAA School of Advertising in Johannesburg and also returned to studio that year to record a track called Shibuka for Mondo Music Corporations The Rhythm Nation Project Volume 1.
In 2000, Chilu and close friend, Simunza Muyangana formed an Urban African online magazine called BH Magazine (http://www.BHMagazine.com) which today, with the help of a network of friends, has grown to be a very popular online destination.
Early in 2001, Chilu graduated from the AAA with a Higher Diploma in Integrated Marketing Communications, specialising in Brand Management and on graduation day was jointly awarded the Faculty Heads Award for Social Responsibility. Chilu joined Young & Rubicam after receiving a part bursary from the company to complete his studies at the AAA School of Advertising.
Today
A radio and television presenter, Chilu is also a popular voice over artist featuring on numerous radio and television ads. He was the voice-narrator for the Coca Cola Popstars Television Series' that aired on SABC1 in 2003 and 2004 as well as the East African edition broadcast on three television stations in East Africa 2004. As a public speaker and Master of Ceremonies he has among other roles been Master of Ceremonies at the annual Miss Zambia Pageant four consecutive times. He was the regular host of the weekend afternoon shows on 94.7 Highveld Stereo before giving them up to spend time with his new born daughter in March 2006. He was also the co host of travel and lifestyle magazine show Africa Within on SABC Africa. Chilu recently released of his debut cd titled Sound Legacy on which he played the role of Executive Producer alongside his wife Carol. The cd was released under their company - Ten Twenty Seven Productions and can be sampled at ChiluLemba.com
Chilu, his wife Carol and daughter.courtersy of urban staffer
Chilungu Lemba was born on 27 August 1975 in Lusaka Zambia. His definitive childhood years where spent in different Zambian towns and cities among them Livingstone, Ndola and Mkushi. He'd developed a love for the arts at an early age. At twelve, he was a member of the cast that emerged winners in the Southern Provincial Primary School drama category.
The first rap recording that Chilu did was on a home stereo system almost twenty years ago - a collaboration with his elder brother Sitwala. Later in life, Chilu's musical exploits were acknowledged and rewarded: in 1991 he was honoured at the Chengelo Secondary School Music Awards Ceremony receiving the school's annual Music Award. During the summer of that year Chilu and two of his brother's had gate-crashed a rap workshop that was held by Norman Cook (now known as Fatboy Slim) and his then group Beats International. The group encouraged the delegates to be more 'African' in their music presentation prompting Chilu to later adopt a new rap alias -'King Bongo'. A couple of years later he teamed up with popular TV personality Alan Mvula to record Zambia Moto (translated meaning 'Zambia Fire') a song that Chilu wrote at the age of seventeen. It went on to receive massive airplay on local radio. At the time Chilu who had since done away with the 'King' prefix of his pseudonym was also a member of The Man X Crew - a four man act with whom he recorded and marketed a cassette single titled 'Keep Moving"- selling copies to mostly friends and family.
Before his twenty first birthday, Chilu joined newly established Radio Phoenix FM in Zambia as a budding presenter. A young Chilu hosted his own slot, called "The Fruit Juice Show" featuring heavy amounts of hip hop, pop, Jungle music as well as showcasing local - and occasionally - international artists. Then, in 1997, Chilu was appointed Acting Station Manager of Radio Phoenix. A year later, after a productive stint in management, he decided to leave Radio Phoenix and become a full time college student. Chilu enrolled at the AAA School of Advertising in Johannesburg and also returned to studio that year to record a track called Shibuka for Mondo Music Corporations The Rhythm Nation Project Volume 1.
In 2000, Chilu and close friend, Simunza Muyangana formed an Urban African online magazine called BH Magazine (http://www.BHMagazine.com) which today, with the help of a network of friends, has grown to be a very popular online destination.
Early in 2001, Chilu graduated from the AAA with a Higher Diploma in Integrated Marketing Communications, specialising in Brand Management and on graduation day was jointly awarded the Faculty Heads Award for Social Responsibility. Chilu joined Young & Rubicam after receiving a part bursary from the company to complete his studies at the AAA School of Advertising.
Today
A radio and television presenter, Chilu is also a popular voice over artist featuring on numerous radio and television ads. He was the voice-narrator for the Coca Cola Popstars Television Series' that aired on SABC1 in 2003 and 2004 as well as the East African edition broadcast on three television stations in East Africa 2004. As a public speaker and Master of Ceremonies he has among other roles been Master of Ceremonies at the annual Miss Zambia Pageant four consecutive times. He was the regular host of the weekend afternoon shows on 94.7 Highveld Stereo before giving them up to spend time with his new born daughter in March 2006. He was also the co host of travel and lifestyle magazine show Africa Within on SABC Africa. Chilu recently released of his debut cd titled Sound Legacy on which he played the role of Executive Producer alongside his wife Carol. The cd was released under their company - Ten Twenty Seven Productions and can be sampled at ChiluLemba.com
Chilu, his wife Carol and daughter.courtersy of urban staffer
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