Mampi

Mirriam Mukape (born 4 August 1986), usually known as Mampi, is a Zambian R&B singer. She also performs some kwaito and reggae music.

Early life

Mampi was born in Lusaka on 4 August 1986. She went to Muyooma Basic School, Libala High School, and the Springfields Coaching Centre in Lusaka.

Music and career

Mampi's first album Maloza was released in 2005. It included the song "Sunshya", which she performed for her first appearance on Television Zambia. Her second album, Chimo ni chimo, was released in 2007. She performed in Namibia for the first time in 2012, at Windhoek.

Big Brother Africa

Mampi was a contestant during the seventh season of Big Brother Africa 7 as one of the celebrity housemates on the seventh season of the reality competition television series Big Brother Africa StarGame. Mampi was evicted from Big Brother Africa on 27 May 2012; she was in the house for 21 days.

Discography

Music of Zambia

The music of Zambia has a rich heritage which falls roughly into three categories: traditional, popular and Christian.

Traditional music

Traditional Zambian music is rooted in the beliefs and practices of Zambia's various ethnic groups and has suffered some decline in the last three decades. Traditional Zambian music once had clear ritual purposes or was an expression of the social fabric of the culture. Songs were used to teach, to heal, to appeal to spirits, and for mere enjoyment. Despite the decline of traditional music, its influences can still be heard in many of today's Zambian musical forms. The ubiquitous African "call-and-response" can be heard in almost every Zambian song no matter what the style. Traditional drum rhythms and polymeters are evident in many different kinds of Zambian music. Contemporary popular forms such as Zambian Kalindula also exhibit traces of traditional music in the finger-picking style used by guitarists.

Instruments

Traditional Zambian instruments include a variety of membranouss, both stick-struck and hand-struck. Drums are essential for most traditional dances. Mango is the generic central African term for drum but Zambian drums come in a variety of sizes, shapes, and purposes and have specific names depending on their tribal origins and functional roles. The budima drums of the Valley Tonga, for example, are used specifically for funeral ceremonies. Budima drums have a goblet shape and come in sizes ranging from large to small. One of the most interesting of drums is the so-called "lion drum" (Namalwa in Tonga) used at traditional funerals. This is a friction drum which is not struck at all but which has a stick inserted through the drum head that is rubbed. The silimba is a large 17-note xylophone from Western Province.