MEET ‘UNLUCKY’ ZAMBIAN DIVA MAMPI

ZAMBIA – Losing a longtime lover when on the verge of tying a knot, evicted from the Big Brother House and failing to win an award after being nominated in over three categories is what Mampi experienced last year.

MAMPI

Zamtel Entertainment caught up with the diva on her recent private and public life happenings. Mirriam Mukape, 27, is one of the most happening female artists in Zambia but her works were not honoured in any way in 2012.

Mampi missed out on the ZNBC Music Video awards and Ngoma awards, the matter which has troubled her. “Walilowelela was one of the most played songs in 2012 and for me not to win any award is like my works are not appreciated or maybe someone is against me,” said Mampi.

Mampi was also unlucky as she was beaten by her nemesis Kay in the Best Female video at the ZNBC Music video awards.

Missing out on awards is not the only bad thing that happened to the diva in 2012 as she had her engagement to footballer Dominic Yobe called off, for reasons that she has kept close to her heart.

“It is not easy to break up with someone that you have been with for a long time and the fact that we were close to getting married it really hurts but I am managing well,” said Mampi with an indignant face.

After being there for the diva, while most people were against her stay in the Big Brother House, Yobe and Mampi broke up, in a move that shocked the followers of the singer and footballer’s lives.

However, the relationship breakdown did not deter the Chimo ni Chimo singer from having a successful musical 2012.

“One thing I appreciate about the Big Brother House experience is that it exposed me to many parts of Africa and as such I travelled a lot and made a lot of money,” she said.

Mampi said she held more than 20 international shows and she competed with South Africa’s most happening singer Zahara in Namibia.

The organisers of the show said that she pulled a similar crowd with Zahara which was no mean achievement.

“You know Zahara is big and for me to have the same crowd as her, it was a big achievement,” said Mampi who was relaxed in the comfort of her newly acquired Black Toyota Allex.

Her Facebook page following has doubled to over 30, 000 after her Big Brother Africa stint where she did not last.

On 2013 prospects, as she has a huge task to impress her fans locally and abroad, Mampi said she will consider releasing an album depending on how her new single fares on the market.

Late last year, the diva released the single Nikutantula which she has been promoting locally.

Last weekend she perfomed at Eastpoint where her fans sampled the single track.

“I am promoting my new single and depending on how the song performs, I will decide by the end of February if I can come up with an album.”

However, Mampi has this year been nominated in four categories for the Mosi Lager Zambian Music Awards where heavyweights like JK, K’Millian, Dalisoul and Zone Fam are missing.

Though nominated in Best Female Album Contemporary, Best Female Artist Contemporary, Best Dancehall Artist and Best Female Vocalist categories, Mampi feels a lot needs to be done about awards in Zambia.

“I think the awards are more of popularity awards than achievement awards.

“To my fellow artistes like JK, K’Millian, Sakala Brothers, B1, Dalisoul, Angela Nyirenda, Sister D, Nalu, Hamoba, Ozzy, Lily T, MC Wabwino and Zone Fam they shouldn’t feel like they haven’t contributed to the industry or that they are not amongst the best,” said Mampi.

The Swililili star said her main target this year is to produce quality videos and songs that will see her get a nomination for the MTV Africa Music Awards and the Channel O Music Video Awards while she said she will take time to change her relationship status. Times of Zambia