By CHUSA SICHONE –
BORN-AGAIN Christian Wilson Lungu, popularly known as Wile ‘Nalibombele’, is this year breaking his five-year musical silence by going back in the studio this month to record his second gospel album.
Renowned for his hilarious social commentary songs done in Lamba language, Wile last released an album (debut gospel project) Mwe Lesa Wandi in 2010 after he gave his life to God in 2007.
Wile said since he became born-again, he stopped recording secular music, womanising, fighting, among other ungodly activities. He expressed his gratitude to God for transforming him.
Wile told the Times Weekend Entertainment in an interview that he went on a musical hiatus to concentrate on his inborn talent of art (painting), while analyzing the Zambian music industry.
“I am going in the studio this month (April). I have a lot to offer. I have been reading and analysing, looking at Zambian music, at the way it has grown, the way it has fallen, what it has achieved and what it has lost,” he said.
Wile, who is turning 38 this month, said despite being a man of God, he has not departed from his Lamba style of music and thus his fans should expect that in his forthcoming second gospel album.
Wile’s analysis of the Zambian music industry and Africa as whole is that most artists lack originality as they tend to copy Western music. He said the copycat artists produce what he termed “biscuit music,” which has a short lifespan.
Wile would love to be remembered for his originality and not for being a imitator, saying artists have the power to change the world but if they do not do so by copying other people’s styles and doing even better than those they copy then they do not qualify to be artists.
“Are we reaching the targeted people? To me, the answer is maybe 30 or 35 per cent at the most because we have music that is downloadable but not sellable in terms of CDs. You would rather listen to it on the radio rather than buy the CD because it’s biscuit, anytime it will fade away,” Wile said.
Wile’s discography comprises Nalibombele (2004), Ba Mwisho (2006), Overdose (2008) and Mwe Lesa Wandi (2010).