THE last six months or so, has witnessed an overwhelming response from Zamrocker fans who have appealed to this columnist not to stop the column, while others have called for the compilation of the articles into a book to be sold during this year’s Zambia’s Golden Jubilee cerebrations.
Well I am highly indebted to the readers and as for the book, I hope interested sponsors will come forward and take it up.
But having said that, here are some of the comments that came forth during the last six months.
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Dear Ben,
I am an Italian collector on Beatles’ covers translated in other languages (I collected almost 3,000 songs in more than 100 languages and dialects).
So far, I found just a couple of covers in african languages.
I read your interesting article about Zambian Beatles-like bands in the 60s, and maybe you can help me.
Do you know if some Zambian band has ever translated some Beatles’ song?
Thank you,
Alessandro
Rome
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Hello Ben,
We are music researchers in Kenya (check out more about us:http//www.ketebulmusic.org
We have read with great interest your pieces on the Zambian musicians who played a key role in the development of Kenyan pop music: Nashil Pitchen, Peter Tsotsi and Ben Simbeye.
Our current project is researching that early foundation of Kenyan pop and we would like to comprehensively tell the story of all the influences, including that of the three Zambians.
Are you in touch with any of their relations? you mention Tsotsi’s son who is also a musician…do you have his name/contacts? Or Simbeye’s daughter Belita who tracked him down after 30 years.
We are looking for any pictures of these musicians, particularly the archival pictures. Let us known if you can find these.
While we are at it, just two quick corrections in your otherwise well-written articles. P.O Kanindo is a Kenyan producer (not Tanzanian, as you said in the Tsotsi story)
Secondly, Awilo Longomba and Lovy Longomba (deceased) are brothers (Nashil Pitchen story). Their father was Vicky Longomba who played in among other bands, Franco’s T.P OK Jazz.
Hope to hear from you very soon.
Bill
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Hello,
Just read your article on Zamrock and Paul Ngozi.
They are an awesome band.
Is anyone still around from that band? I would really appreciate it to speak with one of them or people that knew them. I have a tremendous passion for their music. Is their music still available to buy in Lusaka?
Best regards
Take care
CJ
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Hi Ben,
I am scheduled to visit Zambia next week. I have been told about Kalahari,
do they also play old Amayenge songs?
Is the place descent one?
Regards,
Ben Banda
Financial Controller
PPF House, 6th Floor, Morogoro Road
Samora Avenue
P O Box 21228
Dar es Salaam
Tanzania
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Hi Mr Phiri,
I am a Zambian living in Australia, I have just finished reading an article of a great Zambian musician in the times newspaper by the name of  Peter Tsotsi Juma. I must admit that it’s an interesting one.
I have always been looking for this man’s collection of his music and hence my writing to you. Would please organise a collection of of his tracks and we’ll talk from there.
All the best.
Davies Chileshe mukomba
+61415959076
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Hi Mr Phiri, I am just from reading your very interesting and imformative article-Peter Tsotsi Juma legacy lives on.
I appreciate your work, keep it up, –
Mulala, Solwezi.
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I read your article on Jeff Mulenga in Zamrocker, it was inspiring especially to me because I grew up with Jeff in Luanshya.
My concern is that his music is not played on radio and even on TV including the Tinkles and Witch.
We love old music and not interested in the current music which has no meaning.
Alex Ngosa, Luanshya.
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Hello sir, this is Ritesh Dhakan from Lamba Zambia.
Have been following your coloumn in the Times for some time now.
Your views on the music scene in our country are quiet insightful.It had always been a pleasure reading your writings.
Lamba Zambia manages Keg and Coppersmith at kitwe,where we have live music playing every other weekend.
We have had various artist like Uncle rex and Chenge’s Impact band playing at our venue.
In our quest to support Zambian music scene we would like to have a variety of music at our place, for which we need your help.
Since your authority in this matter is unquestionable,sir we would like you to suggest good artist whom we can have performing live at Keg and Coppersmith.
We would like to have an assorted blend of artist from across genres to please every diaspora of customers that we have.
Looking forward for a word from you,your help in the above mentioned matter will be highly appreciated.
Please also give us a chance to serve you at Keg and Coppersmith.
Thanking you
Ritesh Dhakan
Lamba Zambia
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Benson Simbeye
Dear Mr Phiri
I’m writing to just tell you that the article with the above title was marvelous.
I enjoyed the story of this great Zambian musician. I used to love his music when I was growing up.
You did mention another great man in the music Benson Simbeye. How can I get this guy’s music especially songs like uwambeyele ulukusu and the other songs you mentioned in your article.
I’m currently working in South Africa. And in March 2014 when I was there I managed to grab one CD on which Peter Tsotsi Juma’s great hits were recorded.
Mung’omba Bernard
Assistand director Dignostic Imageing Mosvold Hospital
+27 35 591 0122 EXT 136/126 (W) +27 72 175 7685 (C)
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I enjoy reading your articles about Zambian music in those days. Thanks for remembering Smokey Haangala.
Please can we have an article on Evance Mulongwe and the Malaika Band?
Patrick Mutale, Lusaka.
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Thank you Ben for featuring the Burning Youth in your weekly column “ZAMROCKER”  The youthful group was massively talented.
I was amazed that the group was formed in Kitwe.
Unknown Lusaka
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Thanks for another well researched article about our heritage.
I have always looked forward to Saturday’s editon of Zamrocker, Please keep it up.
Ambassador Ali Simwinga.

Hi Ben
I am based in Malawi and I  was fascinated by the above named article which you wrote on 24th January, 2014.
I started hearing of this lady long time ago and at some point in time I related her to GBM (Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba).
But I know that she was related to Jay Mwamba, I do not know if he is still around.
I have never listened to Muriel Mwamba’s songs despite her being hyped.
Anna Mwale did much better than her on the local scene.
Where can we get her songs or is there any link on the web for her songs?
May I also know about this other lady in the Uk, whose songs were also a hit, songs like “I like Music”.
Some of us in the diaspora are zed music starved. Again is there any link for zambian music download?
Thank you so much
George Chipeta
Senior lecturer department of library and information science and depty dean, faculty of information science and communications Mzuzu University, Malawi
P/Bag 201,
Mzuzu
Cell: 265 0995141420
email: georgechipeta@mzuni.ac.mw, georgechipeta@yahoo.com
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justine mwango
Iam an annoncer at Mpka Radio, I like old music and I want songs for Pitchen namely; Ba KK Umuyaya, Mucibolya mwali ba tata for late PK Chishala.
Please, assist me with the dates when PK and Pitchen died.
Thanks so much.
Justine Mwango,
Mpika
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Hi,
It is your article that suddenly made me go back 26 years and I am still thinking through what happened that day.
I also found it by accident yesterday. I googled his name and I was pleasantly surprised to see that there was a post about him two hours before!
It seems the Times of Zambia has its online publication a day earlier than the hard copy.
Thank once again.
Swithin
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I just thought I should share this with you. Thanks for what you have done. This is the edits and final version which I am sharing on my Facebook page in the next few minutes just after midnight.
Early on Tuesday morning on August 16, 1988, a car hooter sounded outside my house followed by a loud knock at my bedroom window.
I looked at the clock. It was 03:45 hours. A feeling of dread swept through me as I recognised the voice.
It was my brother in law. We had been together at the hospital at my eldest brother’s bedside till midnight before he dropped me home promising to pick me up early the next day, but definitely not this early.
He was married to my young sister who was a nurse and they lived near the hospital.
I don’t remember dressing up, going to open the front door, the drive to the hospital.
All I remember is seeing the lifeless body of my eldest brother lying there still, silent.
I could see the nurses, tears in their eyes as they hugged my sister.
There was wailing around the room. I looked at my immediate elder brother and he turned away. He was in tears. Just a few hours ago, we had told Smokey that we were going to the UTH club and he jokingly asked that we bring him a beer.
But there he was – lifeless. I did not cry. I could not shed a tear. I stood there completely numb.
Time stood still and then some one nudged me to follow the body as they wheeled it to the mortuary.
Mortuary! The word kept ringing in my head as we wheeled the trolley. I could hear the sounds from the floor as the trolley went over the uneven cement surface.
It was like some sort of rhythm. Clang, clang, clang -till it slowed down like a well drilled orchestra.
The body was lifted into a compartment and the door closed with a whoosh. It reminded me of the choir master swishing his baton, bringing the ode to its finale.
The type writer had typed its last full stop. The music had been played. The last note had been strummed.
Smokey Haangala, the poet, writer, composer and musician had played his last show.
I know there are lots of us who have experienced this.
Not once, not twice, but several times. Some more tragic, others less so, but death is death and the pain always the same.
To those who have experienced the pain of losing siblings, parents, children and loved ones, know that what you feel, a lot of others do too.
It may not be something that may console us, but knowing that there is some one out there who knows the pain, makes it a little more bearable.
SMOKEY HAANGALA – REST IN PEACE.
Stay blessed.
Swithin
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Comments; benjphiri990@gmail.com-0971 933809; website: www.times.zo.zmS based