The music of Zambia has a rich heritage which falls roughly into categories of traditional, popular and Christian music.
Chilu Lemba is a Zambian-born and South African–based award-winning voice over artist, author and musician. His voice is heard across the African continent daily on ads ranging from branding commercials for washing detergents and cellphone networks, to promos for satellite television channels.
Mobb Deep was an American hip hop duo from Queens, New York formed in 1991. Consisting of rappers/songwriters/record producers Prodigy and Havoc, they are considered to be among the principal progenitors of hardcore East Coast hip hop. Mobb Deep became one of the most successful rap duos of all time, having sold over three million records. Their best-known albums are The Infamous (1995), Hell on Earth (1996) and Murda Muzik (1999), and their most successful singles were "Shook Ones " and "Survival of the Fittest." They were known for their dark and hardcore delivery.
Zeds Dead is a Canadian electronic music duo from Toronto, Canada, consisting of Dylan Mamid, also known as DC, and Zachary Rapp-Rovan, also known as Hooks. The duo rose to prominence releasing original music and remixes from 2009 to 2010 before becoming a staple on the international touring circuit thereafter. They explore a diverse variety of genres that combine aspects of dubstep, UK garage, house, electro house, hip-hop, glitch, drum and bass, and more.
The Cross Movement was a Christian hip hop group from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Yvonne Mwale is a Zambian Afro-Fusion, jazz and blues singer.
Urban Cone is a Swedish indie pop band from Stockholm, formed in 2010 by current members Emil Gustafsson, Rasmus Flyckt, Tim Formgren, and Jacob William Sjöberg and former member Magnus Folkö while the members, who all shared a passion for music were all still in high school.
Tim Neufeld is a Canadian singer, songwriter and recording artist from Winnipeg, Manitoba and now based in Chilliwack, British Columbia, best known as the co-founder and lead singer of Starfield who are four-time Juno Award nominees, Western Canada Music award recipients, winners of 10 GMA Canada Covenant Awards (CGMA) and two Dove Awards. He is currently lead singer of the country music group Tim and the Glory Boys.
Zone Fam was a Zambian hip hop supergroup based in Lusaka, composed of Sam Sakala, Jackson Banda, Reginald Lube, and previously Timbwama Chisenga until his departure from the group on April 1, 2015. It was a collective of solo artists that frequented "Zone Studios" started by Duncan Sodala also known as Holstar and Kati Kawanu in 2006. Zone Fam Officially became a Rap group in 2009 after recording "The Full Script" Mixtape with Nigerian producer Teck-zilla. They gained popularity after the release of their debut album single Shaka Zulu On Em which received nationwide airplay, topping radio charts and got worldwide reviews off YouTube. In 2011 they went on and released their first studio album, The Business: Foreign Exchange, which was the bestseller of that year. In 2012, Zone Fam signed their first international deal under record label Taurus Musik of Kenya, which helped them produce songs several songs and visuals namely, Translate, "Da Bidness" and Contolola, which won them a Channel O Award at the Channel O Music Video Awards for Best Group. They also have to their name the award for Best African Group at the Global African Music Awards. The group is currently disbanded and was managed by Duncan Sodala between 2009 and 2014 - He also manages the Zone Fam brand.
Mulaza Kaira, also known as Macky II, Macky 2, MK Macky 2, DJ Bugar, and Flava Boy, is a Zambian hip hop musician, singer, songwriter, record producer and Actor. He is known for participating in the ninth season of Big Brother Africa, where he placed third in the competition. Kaira is from Chingola, Zambia, and runs the Macky 2 Hope Foundation, which supports orphans and vulnerable children.
Brian Mumba Kasoka Bwembya known professionally as B Flow, is a Zambian musician, media personality, humanitarian, philanthropist, social justice advocate, and founder of Music For Change. He served as Chairperson of the HIV/AIDS and Social Commentary (HASC) committee of the Zambia Association of Musicians (ZAM) from 2014 to 2017, before being elected to the position of Publicity Secretary in 2018. He is the global ambassador in the fight against HIV/AIDS for American organization AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) and also the first Zambian artist in the world to launch an album at a US Embassy. The event was sponsored by the United States government through the embassy. The stage name B Flow was inspired by people who loved his 'flow'. B Flow also took a new direction with his music, changing his genre to what is now known as “KaliDanceHall”. In November 2016, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) named B Flow as one of the 16 voices of activism against gender-based violence around the world.
Mukubesa Mundia, better known by his stage name Petersen Zagaze is a Zambian Reggae and Afro Dancehall recording artist and record producer from Lusaka, Zambia. He initially gained major recognition after his third single in 2005 Munyaule. Petersen a holder of a Bachelor of Art's Degree in Public Administration is also the chief executive officer (CEO) of his own label imprint, Zaga Lyfe Entertainment, Octopus Media and 2016 Kora Awards Best Male Southern Africa Nominee.
Clementina Mulenga Masengu, popularly known as Cleo Ice Queen, is a Zambian musician and television personality. To her music career, she has two successful albums and affiliations with international labels such as Def Jam Records, Cleo has earned numerous accolades, including the Best Female Rapper Southern Africa at the 2021 African Muzik Magazine Awards (AFRIMMA) and Best Female Artiste Southern Africa at the 2022 All Africa Music Awards (Afrima).
Masautso Nkhoma known professionally as Ruff Kid is a Zambian rapper and songwriter. He debuted in 2004 with his single Wekatemwikwa. Because of the rough childhood he went through, he decide to name himself Ruff Kid, a name that will always depict of his hard life growing up. In 2012 he won a BEFFTA award in the category of best international act beating other African music heavy weights such as Zahara, Camp Mulla, Cover Driver, D’banj and Grace Galaxy
Chimwemwe Chihana, also known by her married name Chimwemwe Chihana Mtawali, is a Zambian photographer known as Qcheda. She is also a Digital Media Specialist, and has written and performed Afro-pop, reggae and dancehall songs under her stage name Wacheda.
Sampa Tembo, known professionally as Sampa the Great, is a Zambian singer, rapper and songwriter. Between 2014 and 2020, she was based in Australia. Her debut solo album, The Return, peaked at No. 12 on the ARIA Albums Chart. At the ARIA Music Awards of 2019 she won Best Hip Hop Release for her second single, "Final Form". In the following year she won the same category for The Return, as well as Best Female Artist and Best Independent Release. In March 2020 Sampa became the first artist to win the Australian Music Prize twice: for Birds and the Bee9 and The Return. The artist was based back in Zambia from late 2020, where she issued her second studio album, As Above, So Below.
Mwila Musonda, known professionally as Slapdee, is a Zambian hip hop and rap musician. Having won multiple awards since his debut in 2006, he is often regarded one of the pioneers of Zambian hip-hop.
XYZ Entertainments, also known as ‘Xamplo Yapa Zed’(XYZ) which means ‘Zambian Example’ in Bemba and Nyanja, is a Zambian Music Record Label in Lusaka. It was founded by Mwila Musonda AKA Slapdee who is regarded to be one of Zambia’s music pioneers. The entertainment group had some of Zambia’s greatest musical icons, like PJay, Rufkid, Bmak, Jonny C, DaevZambia, to mention just a few. R&B, afropop and hip hop music are types of genres most artists signed to the label produce.
Dingindaba Jonah Buyoya is a multi-award-winning Zambian journalist, winner of the BBC Komla Dumor Award 2022 and television presenter at Diamond Television, a leading private TV station in Lusaka Zambia.
Trevor Mumba is a Zambian businessman and radio personality based in South Africa. He owns Rovert Radio for which he won the Zambian radio personality in 2023. Prior to that in September 2022 was nominated for the Diamond TV Personality Awards and won the 2022 Medium Enterprise Owner of the year Award, where he was placed in the same category as renowned Zambian businesswoman Monica Musonda.
