JAMES NGOMA

J ames Chamanyazi - Manages Chamanyazi Enterprises Ltd and supervises all employees and activities / operations. Born on 16 September in Lusaka Zambia, James Chamanyazi (real name James Ngoma) is a contemporary kalindula / traditional pop and jazz artist from Zambia. He earned his stage name from his maiden album titled ‘Chamanyazi’ (released in 1994). The album was launched while he was doing his secondary education at Kabulonga Boys Secondary School in Lusaka. It was well-received on the Zambian music market.
He joined the music industry in 1994 when he was a teenager. He is the leader of a band called The Muvi Posse. The music ensemble is one of the very few contemporary live bands that Performs authentic Zambian music in a multi-dimensional, traditional and multi-directional way. The band performs and explores various elements of African music such as kalindula, chitelele, shonongo, manchacha, chingande, chimtali, siomboka, rhumba, chimurenga, kanindo, kizomba, hip-hop, reggae, rock, jazz, kwaito and free form.
Some of his famous compositions include ‘Chamanyazi’ where he got his stage name, ‘Diya Lelo’, ‘Banyama’, ‘Nkhwale’ (analila mulenga), ‘Tekanya’, ‘Umulumendo’, ‘Chidzukulu Tuvi’ and many more.
Since the establishment of his career in 1994, the he has sought opportunities for a wider, free expression of live contemporary live band music. His draws its inspirations from some of Zambia’s singing sensations like the late Alick Nkhata, late P.K Chishala, late Paul Ngozi, late Mike Nyoni, Violet Kafula, late Joyce Nyirongo, the Witch band and the Musi-o-tunya band.
Chamanyazi has been running the band Muvi Posse since 2003. Other successes achieved by Chamanyazi and the Muvi Posse band include the Best Kalindula Album of the Year Award at the 2014 Zambian Music Awards (Mosi Awards), the most conscious HIV and AIDS Artist of the year 2008,2009 and 2010 and Best Band of the year 2011 (all these were Ngoma Awards).