Biography
Emmanuel Mulemena
Folk singer and guitarist from Zambia.
Born: December 25, 1937 in Kasempa, Zambia
Died: February, 1982
Emmanuel Mulemena was a highly influential Zambian folk singer and guitarist. Born in in 1937 in the then British colony of Northern Rhodesia, he originally trained as a teacher and worked as one for some years in Luapula Province of Zambia. Around 1963, he moved to Lusaka to work at the Northern Rhodesian Broadcasting Corporation where he became a presenter focusing on the Kaonde language. During his time at NRBC (which became the Zambian Broadcasting Service (ZNS) in 1964), he met and worked with the influential musician and broadcaster Alick Nkhata. In 1968, Mulemena left ZBS and began working for Malachite Film Studios in Ndola. There he formed a band known as Mulemena and the Sound Inspectors and with them produced much of his recorded output.
Many of his songs were folk songs updated with a more modern sound and he became known for singing in multiple languages outside of his native Kaonde. He is also noted for being one of the first African musicians to use a drum machine and is credited with popularizing Kaonde Manchancha and Shonongo dance music in Zambia.
Mulemena died in February 1982. His death inspired his backing band to rename themselves The Mulemena Boys. Theyt were known for playing his songs as well as their own compositions based on his style. Mulemena was highly influential in Zambian music with many of his most popular songs covered by other artists since his death. His son John Mulemena, followed in his footsteps and became one of the founding members of Masasu Band.
Born: December 25, 1937 in Kasempa, Zambia
Died: February, 1982
Emmanuel Mulemena was a highly influential Zambian folk singer and guitarist. Born in in 1937 in the then British colony of Northern Rhodesia, he originally trained as a teacher and worked as one for some years in Luapula Province of Zambia. Around 1963, he moved to Lusaka to work at the Northern Rhodesian Broadcasting Corporation where he became a presenter focusing on the Kaonde language. During his time at NRBC (which became the Zambian Broadcasting Service (ZNS) in 1964), he met and worked with the influential musician and broadcaster Alick Nkhata. In 1968, Mulemena left ZBS and began working for Malachite Film Studios in Ndola. There he formed a band known as Mulemena and the Sound Inspectors and with them produced much of his recorded output.
Many of his songs were folk songs updated with a more modern sound and he became known for singing in multiple languages outside of his native Kaonde. He is also noted for being one of the first African musicians to use a drum machine and is credited with popularizing Kaonde Manchancha and Shonongo dance music in Zambia.
Mulemena died in February 1982. His death inspired his backing band to rename themselves The Mulemena Boys. Theyt were known for playing his songs as well as their own compositions based on his style. Mulemena was highly influential in Zambian music with many of his most popular songs covered by other artists since his death. His son John Mulemena, followed in his footsteps and became one of the founding members of Masasu Band.