A NEW STATE OF MIND Hans Kawanda - Nkwazi Magazine

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A NEW STATE OF MIND Hans Kawanda - Nkwazi Magazine
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                  ISSUE 52   |   J U LY / A U G U S T   2021

24
      A NEW STATE
      OF MIND
      Hans Kawanda

44   Why you      50         The Copper                        58   AfriConté:
     must visit              Queens                                 New design
     Clarens                                                        heights

                                                                    W W W. F LY Z A M B I A . C O M
A NEW STATE OF MIND Hans Kawanda - Nkwazi Magazine
A NEW STATE OF MIND Hans Kawanda - Nkwazi Magazine
3

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A NEW STATE OF MIND Hans Kawanda - Nkwazi Magazine
4                                                    CREDITS / THE TEAM

                                                                                   PUBLISHING EDITOR
                                                                                   Walid Nassar
                                                                                   walid@silverfoxzambia.com

                                                                                   DEPUTY PUBLISHING EDITOR
                                                                                   Jolezya Adeyemo
                                                                                   editorial@nkwazimagazine.com

                                                                                   DESIGN
                                                                                   Elijah Katema
                                                                                   ads@silverfoxzambia.com

                                                                                   SALES MANAGER
                                                                                   Musonda Chisenga
                                                                                   musonda@silverfoxzambia.com

                                                                                   DISCLAIMER:
                                                                                   While precautions have been
                                                                                   taken to ensure the accuracy of
                                                                                   the contents of our magazine,
                                                                                   Silver Fox Publications Ltd. does
                                                                                   not warrant or assume any legal
                                                                                   liability or responsibility for the
                                                                                   quality, accuracy, completeness,
    COVER IMAGE:
                                                                                   legality, reliability or usefulness of
    “Street photography found me. Photography saved my life.” These are Hans       any information, product or service
    Kawanda’s thoughts when he reflects on this image he took in Muizenberg,       represented within our magazine.
    South Africa. Turn to page 24 to see more of this Zambian photographer's       Views in this publication are not
    work.                                                                          necessarily those of Silver Fox
                                                                                   Publications Ltd.

    CONTRIBUTORS
    Ashley Nakazwe, Bwanga ‘Benny Blow’ Kapumpa, Karthik ‘Dooderman’
    Jayaprakash, Jolezya Adeyemo, Mbuyoti Silimina, Lari Merrett, Leelee
    Ngwenya, Musonda Kambikambi, Noxolo Kapela, Petra Chikasa, Royd
    Kapesa, Ryan Ellis, Samm Tembo.

    CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS                                                           PUBLISHING HOUSE
    Kalichi Pictures
                                                                                  SILVER FOX PUBLICATIONS LTD.
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                        magazine.

                                            n k w a z i m a g a z i n e . c o m
A NEW STATE OF MIND Hans Kawanda - Nkwazi Magazine
A NEW STATE OF MIND Hans Kawanda - Nkwazi Magazine
6                                                       WELCOME

                        WELCOME ON BOARD
                            PROFLIGHT
                                                 Dear Passenger,

                                                 A
                                                                ll in the aviation sector are very excited about the
                                                                imminent opening of the brand new Simon Mwansa
                                                                Kapwepwe International Airport ( SMKIA) on the
                                                                Copperbelt and the opening of the brand new terminal
                                                                and apron at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport (KKIA)
                                                                in Lusaka. These are both significant investments on the
                                                 part of the government and Zambia Airports Corporation Limited (ZACL)
                                                 and will be welcomed by the travelling public as well as airlines, both
                                                 local and foreign.

                                                 This has given me cause to reflect on airport developments over my
                                                 five decades in the Zambian aviation industry. I clearly remember the
                                                 excitement when the new Lusaka International Airport (now KKIA)
                                                 was commissioned. Many people would be surprised that until then all
                                                 scheduled flights flew out of Lusaka City Airport, this included the BOAC
                                                 VC10 aircraft. This must have been a challenging airport for the pilots of
                                                 those old jets and there was great excitement in Longacres whenever the
                                                 VC10 was coming in or taking off. The move to the brand new airport
                                                 outside Lusaka was a huge milestone in Zambia’s aviation development
                                                 and KKIA has served the nation and the travelling public very well for
                                                 over 50 years. It still has a world class runway and taxiways but a new,
modern terminal will take KKIA to a new level.

The only other ‘greenfield airport’ during my time has been Mfuwe. This was a major development for the Zambian
tourism industry as up until that point South Luangwa had been served by Zambia Airways landing at the gravel strip,
Kakumbi, in the national park near Mfuwe Lodge. The move to the new Mfuwe Airport allowed the option of larger
aircraft, even jets, and a much safer operation with a control tower and dedicated fire cover.

Ndola has been served by the existing airport since the 1950s, the old Nissen huts with their military origins have
served countless passengers and the Copperbelt region well over an extended period. However, the time has certainly
come for change and the brand new SMKIA will certainly add a new dimension to the Copperbelt, the engine room of
Zambia. This is a brand new airport and Proflight Zambia looks forward to flying our dedicated Copperbelt travellers
out of the new SMKIA very soon. In these very difficult times it is encouraging to have a new and exciting development
in the aviation industry.

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to wreak havoc on the airline industry worldwide. To all our dedicated customers
we say a big thank you for continuing to use our services.

Best regards and stay safe,

Yours sincerely,
Captain Philip Lemba

                                           w w w . f l y z a m b i a . c o m
A NEW STATE OF MIND Hans Kawanda - Nkwazi Magazine
7

Bank with the app that
speaks your language
Use the Absa Mobile Banking App in English
-another digital innovation that gets things done.

That’s Africanacity. That’s Absa.
absa.co.zm

Absa Bank Zambia PLC (registered number 119710006444) is regulated by the Bank of Zambia.

                                                          n k w a z i m a g a z i n e . c o m
A NEW STATE OF MIND Hans Kawanda - Nkwazi Magazine
CONTENT

REGULARS

  16

 10. BUSINESS      16. TABLETALK          20. EXPLORE        24. IN FRAME

                  14                              20                        36

 30. VISIT      36. MUSIC          38. CONSERVE         40. HUMOUR

  30
A NEW STATE OF MIND Hans Kawanda - Nkwazi Magazine
n k w a z i m a g a z i n e . c o m

FEATURES

44

44. 10 REASONS WHY            47. ANITA YAMA    50. THE COPPER             58. AFRICONTÉ
YOU MUST VISIT CLARENS                          QUEENS

                         47                          50                                        58

INSIDE PROFLIGHT

65

 64. ROUTE MAP       66. FLIGHT SCHEDULE       67. PROFLIGHT NEWS          70. FLEET & CUSTOMS
A NEW STATE OF MIND Hans Kawanda - Nkwazi Magazine
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Page 16.
                                                   Bart Hofker has been at
                                                   the helm of MTN Zambia as
                                                   CEO since October 2019. He
                                                   is a hands-on leader who
                                                   encourages dialogue and
                                                   is motivated by seeing the
                                                   positive impact of his work.

REGULARS.
       10     16        20     24       30   34   38

            TABLETALK        IN FRAME
12                                                       BUSINESS

     THE SKILLS THAT WILL
     DEFINE THE FUTURE OF
     WORK IN ZAMBIA
     Words by Musonda Kambikambi

I
      f your imagination runs as          certain transitions in work, there is a
      rampant as mine, thoughts about     chance today that future changes can
      the future of work bring to         be anticipated and well prepared for”.       We know that it won’t
      mind artificial intelligence and    A key part of this preparation includes
      flying drones taking over the       identifying occupations, skills and
                                                                                       be easy to establish the
      workplace. However, when this       industries that will be significant to       necessary foundations
visual is juxtaposed against Zambia’s     the future workplace. Developing
41 percent unemployment rates and         expertise within the labour market is        needed to capitalise on
large-scale informal sector, it seems
unlikely that the robots will be taking
                                          vital if we are to grow our economy in       Africa’s digital and broader
                                          a sustainable way.
over any time soon.                                                                    economic transformation,
Nevertheless, even within the
                                          Skills                                       but it can be done. The
Zambian context, the world of work is                                                  next generation of African
changing rapidly and it is imperative     1.   Digital literacy – Surprising no
to anticipate how these changes will           one, first on the list is digital       workers, inventors and
affect our opportunities and living            literacy. Today's world is driven by    entrepreneurs have the
standards. According to a 2019                 Information and Communication
International Labour Organisation              Technology (ICT), thus digital          potential to innovate and
(ILO) report on Zambia’s human                 literacy is and will continue to be a
capital, “unlike in the past when              key skill in the formal and informal
                                                                                       thrive.” - World Bank Social
workers did not seem prepared for              workplace. There is a need to           Development Specialist

                                           n k w a z i m a g a z i n e . c o m
BUSINESS                                                                      13

     urgently scale up investments in                organisations continuously                 3.   Agriculture sector - Zambia’s agriculture
     the adoption and use of ICTs. This              restructure their businesses to                 sector is still highly untapped, consisting
     includes the teaching of ICTs in                accommodate perpetual turbulence,               of more than 26 percent of the employed
     school and providing easy access to             professionals with expertise in                 population but only generating 10
     ICT products at all levels.                     critical thinking, problem-solving and          percent of Zambia’s gross domestic
                                                     formulating change strategies will              product. This sector has a high potential
2.   Continuous learning - Today’s                   continue to be in demand.                       for employment creation and economic
     workplace is characterised by
                                                                                                     growth, however, it is largely associated
     volatility. This requires employees to
                                                Sectors                                              with low productivity because of the
     be agile and have the ability to reskill
                                                                                                     traditional farming methods utilised.
     and upskill to support business
                                                                                                     Digital technology ought to be leveraged
     continuity and competitiveness.            1.   Informal sector (gig economy) -
                                                                                                     to fully unleash the potential of the
     Individuals and organisations need              Creating formal jobs has proven to
                                                     be a formidable task for Zambia.                agricultural sector. Additionally, farmers
     to create systems that support
                                                     According to the ILO, 83 percent                should adopt more efficient farming
     lifelong learning and are key for
                                                     of Zambians work in the informal                practices. However, they also need
     continuous development.
                                                     sector and this trend is predicted to           pricing models that benefit them.
3.   Emotional intelligence (EI) – EI has            increase given Zambia’s very young         4.   Supportive legislation and systems - Like
     been crowned the most required                  population base. While many people              most sub-Saharan countries, Zambia has
     trait of the future. EI is the capacity         think of gig work as a side-hustle              a young population with over 80 percent
     to manage one’s emotions as well as             or something to do while you wait               of the population falling below the age
     to handle interpersonal relationships           for a ‘real job,’ the informal sector is        of 35. With this age structure Zambia
     skillfully and empathetically. Simply,          going to be the new 9 to 5 for the              will need to create more jobs to meet
     it is the balance between head                  majority of Zambians. The reasons               the rising demand. The future of work in
     and heart. The business argument                for this are numerous, ranging                  Zambia will involve equipping its young
     for EI is that it leads to better staff         from high unemployment rates to                 population with skills that can enable it to
     collaboration, better customer                  organisations needing casual staff.
                                                                                                     thrive. In December 2020, the Ministry of
     service, higher sales and greater
     employee engagement. In a world            2.   Financial services - The advent of              Labour released the National Productivity
     where vast amounts of information               ICTs such as mobile phones has                  Policy, which aims to build productive
     are literally at your fingertips,               made it easier to access financial              and competitive human capital by 2030.
     production processes can be                     services. As of 2019, Zambia has                Additionally, the ministry implemented
     duplicated and transferred across               over 6 million registered mobile                the Skills Development Levy to help
     continents, it makes sense that how             money accounts providing access to              fund the development of critical skills
     we relate to ourselves and others               traditionally unbanked populations.             in Zambia’s human capital. However,
     will be key for the future of work.             This trend is predicted to grow as              they’ll need to monitor the efficacy of
                                                     cash increasingly takes a back seat in          these policies to ensure a talented and
                                                     financial transactions.                         competitive human resource.
Occupations
1.   Information technology specialists -
     Global technological advancements
     and factors such as the COVID-19
     pandemic have required many
     organisations’ to undergo digital
     transformations. IT specialists and
     software developers are a key
     resource to organisations and will
     increasingly be in high demand in the
     local job market.

2.   Leadership: directors and executive
     management - Despite a global
     reduction in hiring, demand for
     directors and executive management
     has hardly seen a change. This
     may be because now more than
     ever organisations require agile
     leaders who can traverse a volatile
     environment and deliver businesses
     sustainability and success.

3.   Knowledge workers: project
     managers/change managers/
     turnaround specialists - As

                                                     n k w a z i m a g a z i n e . c o m
14                                                      BUSINESS

                                                                                          Nigeria is one of the world’s leading
                                                                                          markets for cryptocurrencies

     Africa:
     The Next Frontier for Cryptocurrency
     By Mbuyoti Silimina

A
               frica is going through     globe. Created in 2009 by a person or     Nigerians use cryptocurrencies - the
               a monetary revolution      people with the alias Satoshi Nakamoto,   highest proportion of any country in
               never seen before and      investors hope Bitcoin becomes a major    the world. Estimates show that of the
               has become a fertile       mode of financial transaction in the      top 10 countries for trading volumes,
               ground for digital         digital age.                              Nigeria ranked third place after the
               transactions.                                                        US and Russia in 2020, generating
                                          African countries including Zambia        more than US$400 million worth of
Consumers and businesses around           have widely adopted alternatives to       transactions.
the world are using cryptocurrency,       traditional banking in the form of
a form of digital or virtual currency,    mobile money platforms including          Some observers describe
more than ever before. This has partly    Zoona, Kazang, MTN Mobile Money           cryptocurrency as a disruptive
been influenced by the proliferation      and Airtel Money. Some entrepreneurs      innovation, one that could flourish in
of affordable virtual investments as      are of the view that the local money      Africa, under the right circumstances.
a way to make a quick buck. Much          market is ripe for the wide adoption of   However, cryptocurrency is not
of the interest in these unregulated      cryptocurrency because of this.           without its challenges. Firstly,
currencies is to trade for profit, with                                             cryptocurrencies are not legal tenders.
speculators at times driving prices       In many African countries including       Having said this, in June 2021 El
skywards.                                 Kenya, Nigeria, Egypt and South Africa,   Salvador became the first country to
                                          cryptocurrency is growing in popularity   adopt Bitcoin as a legal tender, with
Top cryptocurrencies include Bitcoin,     as more people see it as a lucrative      the change to come into effect in 90
Litecoin, Ethereum, Dogecoin, Dash        investment with high potential returns.   days of the adoption. One can’t help
and Monero, but Bitcoin leads the         An online survey by a data platform       but wonder when or if other countries
pack in Africa and the rest of the        Statista found that 32 percent of         will follow suit.

                                           n k w a z i m a g a z i n e . c o m
BUSINESS                                                            15

In 2018, the Bank of Zambia clamped          manipulate them and that’s why if I do
down on cryptocurrency-related               an Airtel Money transfer to you of say     “Many people in Zambia tend to hold
businesses, days after declaring that it     K500, I know that I have not made the      an opinion that it is just one of those
does not view digital currencies such as     money, you haven’t either – it’s simply    pyramid schemes because of the way
Bitcoin as legal tender. The crackdown       shifting real money from my account to     it has been marketed. For instance,
began when the central bank announced        your account,” PSDA Chairperson Yusuf      you are enticed to buy cryptocurrency
an investigation into Heritagecoin           Dodia told Nkwazi.                         now and told that after three weeks,
Resources Limited for alleged money                                                     the value would have doubled and
laundering. The Lusaka-based FinTech         Dodia further stressed that despite        you wonder how will it double? What
startup that dealt in the business of        cryptocurrency innovation being of the     economic activity is backing this
cryptocurrency faced allegations that        future, somebody decides whether that      currency? Because money, whether it
it had taken on traditional banking          money should exist or not. It can easily   be virtual or actual, must be backed by
activities, such as accepting deposits       be manipulated and that’s where the        production,” Lusaka-based economist
from clients, something it was not           danger is. Furthermore, cryptocurrency     Mambo Haamaundu says.
certified to do.                             is currently not supported by the
                                             international monetary and banking
Many people in Zambia are desperate                                                     He continues, “Money is the store of
                                             system.
for cash and have fallen prey to scams                                                  value and if I am storing value, how
by firms that invite them to invest                                                     does my value double within a short
                                             Investment experts contend that for
cash with the promise of high returns.                                                  period of time. When you deposit
                                             digital money to thrive easily in any
Therefore, if one is thinking of investing                                              money in a bank you earn interest
                                             African nation, prudent economic
in cryptocurrency, it’s important to be as                                              but in a cryptocurrency setup the
                                             management of its natural resources
well-informed on the topic as possible to    is key. They refer to the success story    gains are often said to be ridiculously
better avoid falling prey to scams.          of cryptocurrency in Egypt and South       high. The question is, what is it that
Recently, BoZ said that although Bitcoin     Africa where both nations do not allow     really happens to this money for it
and other cryptocurrencies retained          their natural resources to be exported     to appreciate to 30 percent within a
“some monetary characteristics, such as,     without the equivalent US dollar           month?”
being used as a means of payment on a        coming into their banking system.
person-to-person basis, cryptocurrencies     Economists agree that the Zambian          While cryptocurrency is a complex
are not legal tender in Zambia.”             market is not yet ready for a              topic and not without its risks it is
In neighbouring Zimbabwe, the                cryptocurrency revolution as there         here to stay for the foreseeable future.
central bank also used its authority         are still information gaps in terms of     If managed properly it can be a force
over commercial banks to shut down           policies on virtual currencies, what       for good and in several developing
cryptocurrency markets.                      cryptocurrency is, how it operates,        countries it is used as a tool for
                                             what it can do and what it cannot do       financial inclusion and a supplement to
With the continued depreciation of the       and so on.                                 the traditional banking sector.
kwacha and other African currencies,
caused by a number of factors such as
rising debt, dwindling foreign exchange
reserves and lack of investment in the
manufacturing sector, cryptocurrency
becomes more appealing.

Zambia has experienced a slowdown in
economic activity over the years. In this
context, financial analysts say digital
transactions through platforms such as
eWallet, e-Pay and mobile money is the
way to go.

As economic shocks continue to affect
Zambia’s inflation, employment figures
and national debt among other factors,
the Private Sector Development
Association (PSDA) believes that
the main challenge of adopting
cryptocurrency in Africa is who decides
the value of the currency.
“If you look at mobile money
applications, money transfers and
digital payments, these are bound
by physical currencies in respective
African countries, so nobody can really

                                                n k w a z i m a g a z i n e . c o m
16                                                           BUSINESS

     REMOTE WORK VISAS
     WORK           AND EXPLORE THE WORLD
     Words by Royd Kapesa

I
      f you could live and work in any        To be successful as a digital nomad, one          away from our offices and has normalised
      place in the world, where would you     typically builds a strong financial cushion or    remote working for so many people who
      go and why? The answers to the          needs to develop high levels of self-reliance     had never even considered the possibility.
      question could range from a sandy       and self-discipline.
      beach in the Maldives, a lovely                                                           It is illegal to work in a foreign country
      apartment in the lush forests of        Digital nomadism is not defined by time and       on a tourist visa and in many cases these
Bali or the glittering metropolis of Dubai.   physical structures. The traditional way of       visas usually expire after 30 to 90 days,
While this sounds like a fantasy to some,     work is defined by one’s ability to report to a   and it’s not always easy to renew them.
for others, this is a normal way of life.     set physical location at a set time to provide    So, what if you want to stay longer?
                                              a service for a fixed remuneration or wage.
Those who are brave enough to choose          With digital nomadism, people provide their       This is where a remote work visas come
this radical way of life are called digital   skills and services to one or multiple clients    in. While visa laws in most countries are
nomads. By definition, digital nomads are     for a fixed or variable fee from anywhere in      not set up to deal with this new class
location-independent people who               the world.                                        of modern nomads who are living and
use telecommunications technologies to                                                          working remotely around the world, the
earn an income, while living a nomadic        With more and more people opting for this         tide is turning. A number of countries have
lifestyle. Digital nomadism has been made     type of lifestyle, countries have taken notice    recognised the need for remote work visas
possible through more affordable internet     and are positioning themselves as prime           (also called digital nomad visas or freelanc-
access and smart phones, among others.        destinations for the adventurous soul that        er visas), specifically to entice foreigners to
The growth and normalisation of the gig       wishes to work away from their home coun-         work and contribute to their economies.
economy has also contributed to digital       try. There is also the context of COVID-19,       And this trend is expected to continue
nomadism.                                     which has led many of us to begin working         with the disruption of tourism and travel

                                               n k w a z i m a g a z i n e . c o m
BUSINESS                                                                   17

due to COVID-19. As countries look for         the profile of the country.                     positioning itself for remote workers with a
innovative ways to reboot their tourism        For the individual, one benefit is the          new one-year virtual work programme. This
sectors and overall economies, the remote      ability to live anywhere you want, while        offers a great chance to remote workers to
work visa seems like one of the best ways      maintaining a sustainable income. Many          enjoy the sun everyday while working in
to drive this resurgence.                      countries hoping to draw remote workers         one of the safest and most dynamic cities
                                               have also spent significantly on developing
                                                                                               in the world.
As attractive as remote work visas are, they   their telecommunications infrastructure
do come with requirements that aspiring        and internet coverage and quality. This is
nomads must meet in order to qualify for       certainly appealing to remote workers who       At the time of writing Mauritius was the
the visa. These requirements vary from         expect fast internet, among other facili-       only African country offering a digital
country to country but often relate to:        ties, to optimise their performance. Lastly,    nomad visa, called a premium visa. It lasts
the type of business that one runs (does       visiting digital nomads are offered a safe      for a year and is renewable. Elsewhere in
the business require an office to deliver      environment to work in. These countries         Africa, the Western Cape provincial govern-
a service), gross revenue of the business      depend on people coming in, staying for a       ment has been calling for South Africa to
(monthly or annually), credible references     while and spending money. This wouldn’t         create its own remote work visa.
from banks and other institutions, passing     be possible if everyone was worried about
criminal background checks, personal           their security. Therefore, a lot is spent on    There are more than 22 countries that are
health insurance schemes, among others.        ensuring that cities are safe, which benefits   offering remote work visas and those who
                                               remote workers and citizens alike.
                                                                                               are interested in this way of life will have
The benefits of remote work visas abound
                                                                                               a wide range of countries to choose from.
for both the country and the individual.       Estonia leads the way offering a digital
Remote workers are a source of foreign         nomad visa for remote workers from              The world of work has changed and now
direct investment, which contributes to the    outside the EU, that allows remote workers      productivity is more important than struc-
economy of the host country. The influx of     - whether working as freelancers or for for-    ture. Therefore, countries have realised that
people from all over the world also boosts     eign companies - to live and work in Esto-      the old adage is true, if you cannot beat
tourism for the host country which raises      nia legally for up to one year. Dubai is also   them, join them.

 reservations@mukwalodge.com                                                26/28 Mpezeni Avenue, Kitwe, Zambia

www.mukwalodge.com                                                         +260 962 682 587 | +260 954 987 921
                                                   n k w a z i m a g a z i n e . c o m
18                                               TA B L E TA L K

     TABLETALK WITH
     BART HOFKER
     The conscientious CEO
     Words by Leelee Ngwenya, Images by Kalichi Pictures

                                     n k w a z i m a g a z i n e . c o m
TA B L E TA L K                                           19

W
                          hen you first glance   telecommunications Bart has had a strong
                          at the MTN Zambia      desire to make his work impactful, a desire
                          headquarters on        that was reinforced while working in
                          Zambezi Road, the      Rwanda, South Africa and now in Zambia.
                          building seems         He has been able to see the high growth in
                          intimidating.          numbers and the direct, positive impact of
However, as soon as you walk through the         telecoms and tech on the people and the
doors the environment is both welcoming          economy. As for how he defines success,
and friendly. I met CEO Bart Hofker on a         Bart reflects, “When I was younger,
cold Monday afternoon at his office. The         I was primarily driven to outperform
first thing you will notice about him is his     competition, always eager to do better
welcoming presence which immediately             than the rest. Now that I am older, my
warms the room. I sat down and found             personal motivation has shifted to impact.
myself smiling and laughing within minutes;      The desire to have a positive impact in
Bart has the uncanny ability to make you         business, in society and in people’s lives
feel at home.                                    we as MTN have achieved that. I think
                                                 that is also one of the reasons why I enjoy
Bart is from the Netherlands and as a            working in Africa, the impact is so direct.
young economics graduate, he began               When you see, for example, financial
his career in telecommunications at a            inclusion and what it means for working
time when the industry had just been             women. When they are able to make some
privatised and the wireless revolution           money and get paid into MoMo [MTN
was just beginning. He shares, “It was           mobile money] and nobody can access
an incredible experience of high growth          it except for them. These are clear-cut
and transformational change. Telecoms            examples.”                                       Telecoms has never
has never been boring. I have been part
of transformational change from fixed to         Bart’s key motivating principles as a            been boring. I
mobile, voice to data, data to content and       CEO are transparency, consistency and            have been part of
now moving into the Fourth Industrial            approachability. “Every month we have
Revolution with the internet of things.”         a town hall session for all of the staff,        transformational
                                                 which is virtual nowadays. During these
Coming from an advanced European                 meetings, the management team shares
                                                                                                  change from fixed
market with a background in marketing and        the state of our business. Anyone can            to mobile, voice
branding, Bart, has a unique perspective         ask questions and give feedback on
that allows him to understand both the           where we need to improve.” It is this            to data, data to
technology and the customers. However,           kind of leadership based on listening            content and now
he has had to navigate and learn the             and encouraging dialogue that has made
FinTech business as it was completely            for a dynamic and highly motivated               moving into the
new to him before working on the African         management team that is engaged
continent. “FinTech, the use of mobile           with the company beyond their specific
                                                                                                  Fourth Industrial
money and its large reach in Zambia were         responsibilities. Bart adds, “I am very much     Revolution with the
all new to me. In Europe mobile services         hands-on. It’s in my DNA as a marketer. I
are all post-paid, and here it is all prepaid,   believe we are successful when customers         internet of things.”
so I think I bring a wealth of experience        can validate that what we are doing is
with me, especially with customer insights.      working. I really love to go into the field, I
I think in Europe we have made our fair          love to go to the call centre and to listen
share of mistakes by not being customer          in and to talk to customers and to be with
centric, whereas here we have to be              our MTN data champs.”
customer centric in terms of services, tariff
pricing and more.”                               COVID-19 has had an impact on
                                                 operations in the telecoms sector but
Challenges are something any career              MTN was prepared and had the necessary
has and Bart’s has had his fair few. He          conversations with regulators and the
elaborates, “Every job at every company          government on how to continue doing
provides its own challenges and as you           business effectively. They managed to
learn from them, new challenges will always      grow from three million mobile customers
arise. Right now, my biggest challenge is to     in 2020 to five million in 2021! By
address the complications for our business       prioritising their customers’ needs during
caused by Zambia’s macro-economic                the pandemic and making FinTech a
situation. The depreciation of the kwacha        priority they were able to engage the
has made us seek a balance between               largely unbanked populations and add
optimising costs, rationalising dollar           them to their platform. Business also grew
investments and growing the business.”           as MTN grew their distribution channels
                                                 and increased incentives. They have been
Throughout his career in                         able to contribute to job creation with

                                                     n k w a z i m a g a z i n e . c o m
20                                                        TA B L E TA L K

50,000 agents in the filed running their    ‘bank’ account is a mobile money account,
own MTN booths or service centres.          teaching them that their money can be
                                            stored safely, sent in a contactless way and
During the pandemic they prioritised        cashed out if need be. Bart explains, “Our
keeping customers connected and             sales people, our champs, have critical jobs.
employees safe. When it came to             Fortunately, there was no formal lockdown
business solutions MTN stepped up again,    because that would have meant the sales         “When I was younger,
with flexible solutions like data bundles   guys could not sell airtime and earn a
for MiFi and routers, bulk SMS, MoMo        living wage and would have further pushed
                                                                                            I was primarily
limit waiving and Office 365 onboarding     people into isolation.”                         driven to outperform
for remote working. Bart shares, “To
support families who are working            Before we end our conversation, I ask him
                                                                                            competition, always
and schooling from home we offered
affordable data bundles and educational
                                            what his favourite part of living in Zambia     eager to do better
                                            has been so far. He smiles and replies, “I
solutions under tele-school and eTutor in
                                            think there are two things for me. It’s the
                                                                                            than the rest. Now
accordance with the Ministry of Health’s
directive. We offered free and discounted
                                            people and the nature. Zambia is very open,     that I am older, my
                                            optimistic, and the people are happy. Even
family entertainment solutions. As for
                                            with the pandemic and some struggling           personal motivation
MoMo, we zero-rated mobile money
transfers up to K150 and doubled the        financially, personally, Zambians are happy     has shifted to impact.
MoMo transaction limits to reduce the       people. The second one, nature is just
physical exchange of money, which could     amazing. The wildlife is unmatched. During      The desire to have
be virus transmitters.”                     the pandemic my wife and I have made            a positive impact in
                                            a point to travel and see more of Zambia
 MTN has also included educational          since we cannot travel home.”                   business, in society
programmes to teach people how to                                                           and in people’s lives
deal with FinTech and also to teach         And there you have it, a man of the people!
customers how to use it effectively and     Bart Hofker demonstrates that he is a           we as MTN have
efficiently. By doing so they are tapping   hands-on leader. He is always looking for a
into a large group of people whose first    way to be involved at the ground level.
                                                                                            achieved that.

                                             n k w a z i m a g a z i n e . c o m
www.atlasmarazambia.com

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22                                                     EXPLORE

     WESTERN PROVINCE
     Where history and nature meet under wide skies
     Words by Petra Chikasa, Images by James Blewett

                                                                              C
                                                                                             rossing the magnificent
                                                                                             Mongu-Kalabo Road that
                                                                                             spans the upper Zambezi
                                                                                             River in Western Province,
                                                                                             the sun is reflected by the
                                                                                             broad flood plains melt into
                                                                              the distant horizon. Looking out over the
                                                                              water, remote island villages stand out.
                                                                              They consist of small clusters of houses
                                                                              with a few palm trees on the occasional
                                                                              outcrop of dry land that rises above the
                                                                              water. A few fishermen stand to paddle
                                                                              their mukolo (the Lozi word for dugout
                                                                              canoes fashioned from a single tree trunk)
                                                                              as they go in search of the day’s catch.

                                                                              Just a few weeks earlier, this vast expanse
                                                                              of water slowly covered bone-dry land, and
                                                                              travelling from Mongu towards Kalabo, it
                                                                              is not hard to see why the rise and fall of
                                                                              Zambezi River influences the annual cycle
                                                                              of life for the Litunga (the king of the Lozi
                                                                              people) and his people who live in this
                                                                              beautiful part of Zambia.

                                                                              A few kilometres outside Mongu, the
                                                                              causeway road that crosses the plains
                                                                              also provides the best vantage points to
                                                                              watch the sunset. There are laybys and
                                                                              the occasional turnoff where you can
                                                                              park to enjoy the ultimate, but completely
                                                                              uncommercialised sundowner. You need to
                                                                              bring your own beer and there are no fancy
                                                                              decks or manicured lawns. This is authentic
                                                                              Zambia at its best.

                                                                              It was when I drove out from Mongu late
                                                                              one afternoon to catch the sunset that I
                                                                              met a local fisherman. Nasilele had finished
                                                                              his day’s work and was waiting near the
                                                                              road with his canoe to ferry some people to
                                                                              his nearby village.

                                                                              We fell into easy conversation, and I was
                                                                              struck by his warmth and willingness to
                                                                              share stories. After he told me about where
                                                                              he was from and how he made his living,
                                                                              we were soon talking about the world-
                                                                              famous Kuomboka ceremony, an annual
                                                                              spectacle where the Litunga is taken in his
                                                                              royal barge by his subjects to dry land. He
                                                                              explained to me that kuomboka means “to

                                        n k w a z i m a g a z i n e . c o m
EXPLORE                                                                        23

go.” As the water levels go down, the return   from the bank, the fisherman offered to give       where nets were stretched across a small
journey is called the Kufuluhela. After each   me a tour of his village and teach me how          inlet of water.
trip, the royal barge is left to sink in the   to paddle the canoe if I came back the next
shallow water, and a number of these black     day.                                               Later the same day, I visited the museum
and white striped boats can be seen not far                                                       at the Litunga’s palace, just outside Mongu.
from the road across the plains.               The impromptu lesson in the morning turned         This small but fascinating collection
                                               out to be a thrilling, but somewhat nerve-         includes pottery and carved wooden
Listening to Nasilele, I began to understand   racking, experience. When I wasn’t learning        artefacts from the local area and features
why the river plays such an important          the art of keeping balance and trying to stay      a display of objects associated with
role in Lozi mythology. One traditional        on course through the reeds, I was scooping        witchcraft and traditional healing. One
story tells how the god Nyambe created         out the water that seeped into the canoe.          metal pot is alarmingly labelled as being
Kamunu, the first human being. Nyambe                                                             “for cooking human flesh.” Captioned
had decreed that animals should be treated     Despite the occasional wobble, I gradually         picture boards tell the story of the history
with respect, as siblings. But Kamunu          got the hang of how to stand upright and           of the Barotse royal family, which is
started to kill and eat the animals, which     handle the long wooden paddle. As we               believed to have descended from the gods.
annoyed the god. Nyambe left Kamunu by         slowly came closer to Nasilele’s island village,
crossing the Zambezi River, but Kamunu         I was received with cheers and laughter from       Also at the museum, a crafts shop sells
carved a canoe and followed him. Nyambe        a crowd of children gathered to watch the          baskets made from the makenge root, a
built a mountain but Kamunu still came         unusual spectacle of an outsider trying to         Western Province specialty and the ideal
after him, and so Nyambe decided to finally    paddle a canoe. It’s not as easy as it looks.      souvenir of a visit to this part of the world.
escape from Kamunu by going to heaven,
cursing the human with sickness and death      The village was home to about 150 people,          For those who want to get even closer to
on his way.                                    living in traditional mud-walled and thatched      the real, day to day life of Mongu, a trip
                                               family houses. As I walked along the narrow        to the fish market is an absolute must.
Back in dwindling light, while his             paths between the houses, I came across            A dense collection of shops and market
passengers waited patiently and the sun        children playing pool on a makeshift table,        stalls stand by the side along the water at
finally sank into the water, in true Zambian   using short sticks to hit marbles into corner      the end of the canal that stretches from
spirit, I said farewell to Nasilele over a     pockets. Around another corner, Nasilele           below the town centre to the Zambezi.
bottle of Mosi. Pushing his mukolo away        took me to see a women-only fishing area           Sitting under awnings strung from wooden

                                                    n k w a z i m a g a z i n e . c o m
24                                                          EXPLORE

poles, women sell the dried fish that is an
important part of the local diet. Walking
through the market was a rich experience
of unforgettable sounds and sights, and
smells.

Leaving Mongu early the next morning,
I drove for an hour and a half southward
on the road towards Sesheke to reach
the Ngonye Falls, just outside Sioma.

The Ngonye Falls (also known as Sioma
Falls), 12 metres high and stretching in a
kilometre-wide horseshoe shape, are the
second largest on the Zambezi. Sadly, the
full beauty of Ngonye is hidden by a river
island from the bank closest to the visitor
centre, and because the river was so high,
it wasn’t possible to take a boat to cross
to the best vantage point.

But having seen photos of the falls
from the other side of the river, I wasn’t
surprised to learn that when David
Livingstone came across the Ngonye
Falls in 1855 (two years before he saw
the Mosi-oa-Tunya for the first time), he
was so impressed that he almost gave
the name Victoria Falls to this amazing
cascade of white water.

Note to self: time my next trip for when
the river is lower, and make sure to carry
a boat.

There are no scheduled flights to or
from Mongu, so travelling back to
Lusaka meant another nine-hour drive
along what is (apart from one stretch) a
well-maintained road. But they say that
travelling in expectation is as good as
arriving at the destination, and the drive
is itself a highlight of a trip to Mongu.
The road crosses the impressive Kafue
National Park, bisected by its own mighty
river and offering the chance to see
animals along the way.

Western Province is a very special
part of Zambia – not one of the best-
known tourist hot spots, but all the
more authentic and charming for that.
Barotseland may have disappeared from
contemporary maps, but a unique spirit
lives on. My visit left a series of distinct
impressions of a beautiful part of the
country, steeped in history and blessed
with some amazing nature. I will be back!

                                               n k w a z i m a g a z i n e . c o m
The Agroforestry program, which
                                                                                 follows a Reduce, Regenerate
                                                                                 and Substitute approach, is
                                                                                 complimented by the introduction
                                                                                 of wood-efficient curing barns.
                                                                                 In Western Province, where the
                                                                                 company procures flue-cured
                                                                                 Virginia tobacco, which is wood-
                                                                                 cured, the Matope barn was
                                                                                 initiated. The barn uses 75% less
                                                                                 wood fuel than traditional barns.

                                                                                 In the Eastern Province, where the
                                                                                 company procures burley tobacco,
                                                                                 which is air-cured, the live barn
                                                                                 program was introduced. This
                                                                                 is a barn that the Agroforestry
                                                                                 Supervisor Monckton Soko says
On June 5th of every year, the           which was introduced in 2013. In the    is made by “growers planting
nature empathizers around the globe      spirit of continuous improvement,       trees in rows, and then creating a
celebrate World Environment Day,         which is woven throughout JTI’s         roof between them, and hanging
encouraging general awareness            operations, the Agroforestry            leaf underneath. It’s much more
and observing its protection. Since      program has gone through several        environmentally-friendly because
1974, World Environment Day has          changes over the years to make          there’re no barn repairs needed for
been celebrated annually, engaging       it more robust. The results are         the planted trees, which form the
governments, businesses, and             clear to see -- in the crop year        superstructure.”
citizens alike in an effort to address   2020/2021, growers with support
pressing environmental issues.           from JTI ramped up their efforts and    JTI’s prioritization of sustainable
                                         planted 975,320 trees. The company      environment management is a key
In Zambia, the day went by with          has also introduced commercial          reason Mr. Soko enjoys his work
little to no recognition; but for JTI    woodlots to supplement grower’s         so much. In his words: “Every time
Leaf Zambia this day is very special,    efforts, where over 400, 000 trees      I plant a tree, I think about how it
as it provides the company with a        were planted in Kaoma, Western          absorbs carbon. All that carbon that
moment to take stock of its efforts      Province.                               would be all over the place ends up
in environmental conservation.                                                   in the leaves. So, I see myself as
                                         The company has, over time,             cleaning up the air, cleaning up the
Environmental conservation is a          worked with local traditional           environment, and I appreciate that
matter that has been integrated          leaders and government to help          a lot.”
into JTI Leaf Zambia’s business          drive a change in the mindset of
strategy. The long-term supply of        growers. These efforts, coupled
tobacco leaf is anchored by helping      with the training and coaching
its contracted growers plant and         provided by JTI’s extension service
grow trees for curing tobacco, with      employees, referred to as ‘Agronomy
“a set target to replace all wood        Technicians’, have contributed to the
from natural forests, which they         increase in planted trees.
use in their tobacco curing process,
with renewable fuel sources by           “We train our growers and
2030,” explains JTI Leaf Zambia’s        encourage proper management
Agroforestry Supervisor, Monckton        of land through Good Agricultural
Soko. “There’s no business without       Practices (GAP) so that the wood
trees,” is a slogan the company          can grow alongside the crops,” adds
literally lives by, and this has been    Soko. “For example, beans have
translated into the local languages      been known to tolerate growing in
of Chewa and Lozi to communicate         close vicinity to trees, and in fact
to its key business partners:            improve tree growth. This is known
contracted growers.                      as intercropping, and it is more
                                         sustainable. Through intercropping,
Contracted growers are a key             growers are encouraged to tend to
component of the success of the          their woodlots as they care for their
company’s Agroforestry program,          crops.”
26                                                                    IN FRAME

                                                                   Hans
                                                                   Kawanda
                                                                   A New State of Mind
                                                                   Words and images by Hans Kawanda of New State Art

 F
                 rom street, landscape, fashion to
                 commercial photography, I’ve always
                 tried to translate moments and feelings
                 through my lens. Seeing more in
                 everything. I’ve always believed that God
                                                                                                Nsobe Game Camp -
                 is constantly painting around me through
     our breathtaking African environment, cultures and                                         Masaiti
     beautiful people which allows me to create.                                                Watching the sunrise feels
                                                                                                like the day is promised,
     I always took pictures on my phone but it really started                                   the beauty always speaks
     in 2016 while I was in business school. I bought my                                        for itself.
     first camera and nothing was the same after that.

     For me it’s more than a picture or a film. It’s peace, it’s
     love, it’s appreciation, it’s a state of mind, a new state
     of mind. My photography business, NEW STATE ART,
     is aptly named in honour of my journey.

                                                      n k w a z i m a g a z i n e . c o m
IN FRAME                    27

   Muizenberg Beach
   Always windy and you can smell the
   water a mile away. One thing you
   won’t miss for sure are its beautiful
   colours.

Cape Town
The Mother City, the home of art, the
home tofcreatives.
A city that made me see more
in everything, from creating to
preserving.

                                     n k w a z i m a g a z i n e . c o m
28                                                 IN FRAME

     Rockview - Lusaka
     These are moments I always
     appreciate; the humour, laughter,
     freedom and peace. Nothing is ever
     the same when you witness it.

                                      n k w a z i m a g a z i n e . c o m
IN FRAME                                                        29

                                      Lusaka City
                                      Streets where the sun sets like
                                      there’s no goodbye. The image
                                      is as real as it looks. Different
                                      people walking the same path. A
                                      fleeting bond reminding me that
                                      we are strong.

n k w a z i m a g a z i n e . c o m
30                                            IN FRAME

     Levy Mwanawasa Stadium
     Ndola’s pride. It always looks
     beautiful from any point of view.

                                 n k w a z i m a g a z i n e . c o m
IN FRAME                    31

n k w a z i m a g a z i n e . c o m
32                                                 VISIT

     BENIN
     Mysticism, Museums and Monuments
     Words by Bwanga ‘Benny Blow’ Kapumpa

                                   n k w a z i m a g a z i n e . c o m
VISIT                                                                      33

 FUN FACTS

                                                                                 S
                                                                                             andwiched between Togo and Nigeria
        Dahomey, the pre-colonial kingdom that was located in                                in West Africa, Benin may not be at
        present-day Benin had a fierce, all-female army known                                the top of most people’s list of must-
        as the Mino, Minon or Dahomey Amazons. They were the                                 visit destinations, but it offers an
        inspiration for the all-female army in the Black Panther film.                       array of activities for the curious and
                                                                                             adventurous. Once the location of a
                                                                                 thriving kingdom, ancient Benin played a major
        Benin has the largest population of lions in West Africa.
                                                                                 role in the trans-Atlantic slave trade and as a
                                                                                 result has a story teeming with dark history and
                                                                                 cityscapes with interesting architecture. Benin
                                                                                 also has idyllic beaches, vibrant festivals and
        Benin is the birthplace of voodoo or vodun, the often
        misunderstood and stereotyped religion.                                  While Porto-Novo is the capital city, most
                                                                                 government buildings are located in Cotonou,
        Benin was the first African country to successfully transition           which is the economic capital and largest city.
        from a dictatorship to a democracy.                                      But do not confine your travels to these two
                                                                                 cities as the rest of the country has lots to offer,
                                                                                 including Ouidah and Abomey. Some wonderful
                                                                                 sites to visit are the Cotonou Cathedral, Kota
        Angelique Kidjo - who Time Magazine once dubbed “Africa’s                Falls and the Python Temple. These locations are
        premier diva” - hails from Benin. Acclaimed Hollywood star               also testament to the fact that Benin is a must-
        Djimon Hounsou also hails from Benin.                                    see for those with a keen eye for detail and a love
                                                                                 for history. It has architectural appeal, fascinating
                           •   Spot nocturnal wildlife on a night drive          culture and enough sites to build memories for a
YOUR OWN                       in the Pendjari National Park.                    lifetime.
ADVENTURE                  •   Attend the exciting and colourful                 Most of Benin’s attractions are of genuine
                               Ouidah Voodoo Festival.                           historical, cultural and religious significance to its
                           •   Learn something new at the Ouidah                 citizens and not necessarily created to cater to
                               Museum of History.                                tourists. For this reason, many visitors feel they
                           •   Gawk at the sprawling Dantokpa                    get authentic insights into the country.
                               Market.

                                           n k w a z i m a g a z i n e . c o m
34                                                                 VISIT

                                                                            PENDJARI NATIONAL
                                                                            PARK
                                                                            Unspoiled by mass tourism, Pendjari National Park
                                                                            is the largest wild ecosystem in West Africa. The
                                                                            best time to visit this untamed land is around the
                                                                            end of the dry season (November – February) and
                                                                            you can expect to see majestic lions, elephants,
                                                                            hippos, leopards, buffalos and cheetahs in all
                                                                            their glory. It’s also home to over 460 bird species
                                                                            and BirdLife International identified it as an
                                                                            Important Bird Area (IBA). This means the area is
                                                                            important for the protection of threatened and/
                                                                            or range-restricted species (like the Egyptian
                                                                            plover and black crowned crane).

                                                                            If bird feathers don’t tickle your fancy, you can
                                                                            take a deeply relaxing dip at the Tanougou
                                                                            Waterfalls’ natural pool in the Akatora Mountains
                                                                            at the edge of the park.

                                                                            Pendjari is managed by African Parks in
                                                                            partnership with the Government of Benin,
                                                                            the National Geographic Society, the Wyss
                                                                            Foundation, and other partners. Together, these
                                                                            bodies work towards the ecological restoration
                                                                            and protection of the park and uplifting its
                                                                            surrounding communities.

     PORTO-NOVO
     Located off Lake Nokoué, Portuguese colonisers named
     the city after Porto in Portugal when they invaded the
     West African shores and began trafficking enslaved people
     from the land in the 16th century. The Alexandre Sènou
     Adandé Ethnographic Museum chronicles some of this
     history. Its ground floor houses a spectacular collection of
     ceremonial masks while the colonial structure’s top floor is
     organised thematically around birth, life and death. Here
     you’ll find traditional regalia, carved drums and more.

     Built by freed slaves who returned to their ancestral
     home in the 1700s, the Great Mosque of Porto-Novo is an
     awe-inspiring blend of Brazilian and West African culture
     that should also form part of your itinerary. Benin’s Afro-
     Brazillian heritage is apparent not only in Porto-Novo but
     also in Ouidah and Abomey.

                                                n k w a z i m a g a z i n e . c o m
VISIT                                                                   35

COTONOU
One of the most interesting places to visit in Benin’s
economic capital is Ganvie, a village sitting on Lake
Nokoué. With over 20,000 people living in structures
supported by stilts on the water, Ganvie is said to
be the largest lake village on the continent. It was
established as a safe haven for Tofinu people escaping
the Fon slavers between the 16th and 17th centuries.

It’s no surprise that the village is mainly dependent on
fish and fish farming, and you might be interested to
know that the average family usually has three boats –
one for mum, another for dad and one for the children
to get around.

If you believe the adage that art imitates life, you’d
enjoy a visit to the Fondation Zinsou, a gallery housing
contemporary African art. The building itself (the Villa
Ajavon) is a marvel of Afro-Brazilian inspiration and
within it are intriguing collections of photography,
paintings and sculptures.

Not far from the gallery and buzzing with activity
in the heart of Cotonou is Dantokpa Market, which
seems to stretch as far as the eye can see. This is a
must-visit if you want to experience another facet of
Benin. It has everything from batik and ankara fabric
to ingredients for voodoo rituals in its fetish section.

                                                   OUIDAH
                                                   Considered the voodoo capital of Benin, this beach town is shrouded in mystique
                                                   and delves deeper into the country’s slave history.

                                                   After vodun— better known as voodoo in the West—was officially declared a
                                                   religion by the government, masses of practitioners and believers began to trek
                                                   annually to Ouidah, the epicentre of vodun worship, for an unmissable festival. The
                                                   celebrations begin when the supreme vodun priest slaughters a goat to honour the
                                                   spirits, and festivities are characterised by chanting, dancing, singing, drumming
                                                   and drinking of gin. The Ouidah Museum of History sheds more light on vodun’s
                                                   history. Do note that while voodoo is officially recognised as a religion, Christianity
                                                   is the biggest religion in Benin.

                                                   The Slave Route trail may be triggering for some, but is well worth a visit. It follows
                                                   the last four kilometres covered by enslaved people being forced onto ships that
                                                   took them to the Americas. The Beninese government with UNESCO’s assistance
                                                   started the project to commemorate the victims of the slave trade in the nineties.
                                                   The result was an awe-inspiring series of statues, monuments, and installations
                                                   beginning in the town, and following the dirt road to the beach. The works were
                                                   the product of collaboration between talented artists and architects. At the end
                                                   of this dirt road is the towering Door of No Return, a monument to the countless
                                                   enslaved Africans snatched from the port of Ouidah.

                                             n k w a z i m a g a z i n e . c o m
36                   VISIT

                                           ABOMEY
                                           Abomey's main attraction is its Royal
                                           Palaces. UNESCO declared them a World
                                           Heritage site in 1985 and believes that,
                                           “They are the living expression of a culture
                                           and an organised power, testimony to the
                                           glorious past of the kings who ruled the
                                           Kingdom of Dahomey from 1620 to 1900”.

                                           The location has a museum housed in two
                                           palaces that belonged to Kings Ghézo
                                           and Glélé. Within it are displays of royal
                                           thrones and tapestries, as well as eerie
                                           human skulls that were once used as
                                           musical instruments, and four skulls of
                                           vanquished enemies mounted on King
                                           Ghézo's throne.

                                           12 kings ruled the mighty Kingdom of
                                           Abomey between 1620 and 1900. With
                                           the exception of King Akaba who had
                                           his own separate enclosure, all had their
                                           palaces built within the same enclosure
                                           and carried on the tradition of previous
                                           palaces in relation to the use of space
                                           and materials. The palaces are a unique
                                           reminder of this extinct kingdom and the
                                           civilisations that once thrived in Africa.

     n k w a z i m a g a z i n e . c o m
38                                                               MUSIC

     DISHING IT OUT WITH
     SOLOMON PLATE
     Words by Samm Tembo, Images courtesy of Solomon Plate

I
      t’s a Wednesday evening and I’ve just     event for charity, hosted at Manda Hill Mall.
      ended my day. I sit down and reach        The social event aimed at helping clothe
      for my phone, looking at the time,        the less privileged members of society by
      making sure I’m right on schedule. I      taking donations of clothing from the public.
      dial the line, which rings for a while    An electric event, the Winter Warmer            “I wanted to find
      before the voice on the other comes       turned out to be a star studded event with      myself, I wanted
through, it’s Solomon Plate. He sounds          a diverse list of beloved Zambian artists
preoccupied. “I hope I didn’t catch you         rocking the stage for a good cause. One         to find my sound…
at a bad time,” I say. I regret the fact that   such artist was Magg44, who had on stage
I missed the opportunity to interview           with him an ever ecstatic ensemble of artists
                                                                                                It took me a while
Solomon in person due to COVID-19 and           backing him up. Next to Magg44 was a            because I had to be
his busy schedule.                              burly guy I had never seen before, standing
                                                out with his nappy hair and plain white         sure I was sharing
“It’s just as well you called now, any other    T-shirt. He jumped and sang his lungs out,      the right sound with
time and I wouldn’t have picked up! I’m         ceaselessly. Incredibly energetic, I thought
always just so held up in life,” Solomon        he was someone hard to ignore.                  the world.”
chuckles. We begin our chat, taking a walk
through the gospel artist’s journey.            After the set, Magg44 introduced his team.
It was 2017 when I was first introduced         It was then that I learned the captivating
to Solomon Plate at a Winter Warmer             and talented performer on stage with

                                                 n k w a z i m a g a z i n e . c o m
MUSIC                     39

Mag44 was Solomon Plate.

It’s at this moment that Solomon performed his
first single ‘Dance,’ revving the crowd up with the
seamless movement of his waist and his contagious
stage presence, as he danced, just like the song title
suggested.

Solomon Moyo, aka Solomon Plate, started out on
his musical journey by making beats for artists like
fellow gospel musician Trudon Church. Hailing from
a musically inclined family, it was no surprise that
Solomon found himself making music his career. “I
came from a musical background. My grandmother
used to sing, my brother plays the keyboard
and sings. And I have an uncle who was also a
professional musician. Music was just something
I was surrounded by,” he narrates. “Way before I
started making beats, I actually used to sing. Most
people don’t know this, but in 2007 I was one of
the kids that sang on Muvi TV’s Kids Star Talent
Competition. I even won in the first episode,” he
muses.

I ask Solomon why he didn’t put himself out there
sooner musically, to which he says, “I wanted to
find myself, I wanted to find my sound.” A sound
he describes as Afro-fusion. “When I think of my
music, fusion is always the best word to describe it.
Because that’s exactly what my music is, a fusion of
different sounds. It took me a while because I had to
be sure I was sharing the right sound with the world.”

Solomon describes himself as a gospel artist, refusing
to run away from the fact that the messages in his
music are uplifting and always a reflection of his
faith. “If you hear my music, you’re gonna learn that
I’m very proud of my faith.”

Since the release of his debut album Munthu, in
2017, and his hit single ‘Way You Are’ with its
tantalising visuals, off the aforementioned album,
more people became aware of Solomon’s sound
vocally and production-wise. This has made him a
highly sought after music producer and artist in the
country. He has featured on a myriad of songs by
artists such as The Holstar, Natasha Chansa and Abel
Chungu Musuka. Solomon’s undeniable talent has
also garnered him attention from outside Zambia
landing his production and vocals on works of artists
like Limoblaze and veteran gospel rapper from
Nigeria and Christian rapper Da’ Truth from The USA.

Unbeknownst to most, Solomon is one of the lead
producers behind the Fever season 2 soundtrack for
Zambezi Magic. He’s also the artist behind the new
theme song for season 4 of Zuba, another Zambezi
Magic production.

With a sophomore album looming on the horizon,
Solomon shows no sign of slowing down. Check out
his newest single ‘Kula,’ currently streaming on all
major platforms.

                                                     n k w a z i m a g a z i n e . c o m
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