Give me the same attention as Tyler, The Creator, because I did it first – artist CHISENGA

Give me the same attention as Tyler, The Creator, because I did it first – artist CHISENGA 

“I’ve spent over 20 years in the music industry, driven by a passion to elevate Zambian music and culture on the global stage,”

begins CHISENGA, a Zambian artist noted for his contributions to both his hometown and the wider globe. In a contemplative message for Zambia’s 60th Independence Day, CHISENGA shares his experiences and disappointments with negotiating the challenges of acknowledgement and validation, both locally and abroad.

One of CHISENGA’s most valued projects is his song Translation, which honours Paul Ngozi, a legendary figure in Zambian music.

CHISENGA reflects on a crucial period in his artistic career:

“Meeting Paul when I was around 16 years old in Woodlands, Lusaka, was a defining moment for me as an artist.” This interaction motivated him to honour Paul Ngozi’s legacy, an artist he “the Jimi Hendrix of Africa.”

Despite the track’s personal relevance and success in Australia, where it was even housed at the Belmont Museum, CHISENGA expresses sorrow that his work was not well received in Zambia.

“When I released Translation, it didn’t receive the recognition I’d hoped for in Zambia, despite it resonating strongly with my Australian audience.”

He addresses a deeper issue confronting many Zambian artists, the struggle for local acceptance, which frequently comes after foreign acclaim.

A recent occurrence that struck a chord with CHISENGA was Zambians’ widespread acclaim for international singer Tyler, The Creator, who sampled the same Paul Ngozi track that CHISENGA had utilised years before.

“Recently, I’ve seen Zambians praise Tyler, The Creator, for using the same sample from Paul Ngozi’s song, with little acknowledgement of the fact that I had done it first.”

While CHISENGA admires Tyler’s artistry, this incident reflects a disheartening trend, Zambians frequently wait for overseas artists to shed light on their culture before celebrating their own.

“We often wait for international validation to celebrate our own, instead of supporting the artists who are doing incredible things for Zambian music from the ground up,”

he laments. This point is emphasised by the acts of a well-known Zambian producer, who previously complimented CHISENGA’s use of the Paul Ngozi sample before openly celebrating Tyler’s version without crediting CHISENGA’s pioneering work.

“Seeing him praise Tyler without mentioning that I did it first comes across as a way to try to undermine my efforts,” he reflects.

As CHISENGA prepares to perform in Malawi for an Independence Day celebration, he can’t help but wonder how different things might have been if he had performed for his own people in Zambia.

“It’s painful to see that recognition at home sometimes only comes when an international spotlight shines on the same cultural contributions,” he says, and he describes it as “a very backwards mentality.”

CHISENGA’s sincere message advocates for a shift in Zambians’ perceptions of their own creators.

He encourages the country to “reflect on how we value our own creators” and to recognise the significant cultural contributions that Zambian artists make. “Let’s champion and celebrate our own culture from within, so that the world knows the full depth and richness of our talent,” he urges

CHISENGA concludes with a message of gratitude and hope for the future of Zambian music.

“Thank you to everyone who has supported me on this journey, both in Zambia and abroad. Together, we can continue move Zambian music forward.”

In a powerful closing statement, CHISENGA leaves his audience with a challenge,“I challenge you to share this with the same enthusiasm as you are doing Tyler The Creator’s work. Let’s celebrate Zambia and let the world know who did it first.”