Mathew Tembo
Mathew Tembo is a ethnomusicology doctoral candidate. His research interests focus on the impact of the 1990s Zambia’s economic liberalization, and globalization on Zambian-Pop. His first musical experiences began in 1994 when he sang in a band called Afro-Vision. He studied Music Education at Evelyn Hone College of Applied Arts and Commerce in Zambia majoring in classical piano and later studied Bachelors in Primary Education with a bias in Music at the University of Zambia. An active musician while in college, He played in popular reggae bands in Zambia, including the Bantu Roots, and in my own band which later came to be called the Dark Black. He then went on to study World Music Performance at the renowned School of Music at Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL in the United States of America where he graduated with a Masters in Music in May 2013.
Alongside his scholarly work, he maintain an active performing career, touring and recording music all over the world. Mathew has shared stages with acts such as Oliver Mtukuzi of Zimbabwe, Mulatu Astatke and Mahamud Ahmed both of Ethiopia, Michael Rose, Steven Marley, the Skatalites, and Third World of Jamaica. He was awarded best Afro-fusion for the song “Nandunge” from the album, Anthem, His first album to feature Zambian traditional instruments, at the 2008 Born and Bred Awards in Zambia. He has headlined at festivals such as Millpond 2014 in Bishop, CA, 2014 Umoja Festival in Pittsburgh, PA, and the 2015 Levitt Amp Sheboygan Music Series in Sheboygan, WI. He also has had an opportunity to direct two documentaries on Zambian music. The “Sing Our Own Songs” and “Music of the Bwile People” published in 2007 and 2015 respectively.
Originally a reggae singer only, he began playing Zambian-Pop after an eye-opening experience while touring Europe in 2004. When he was doing a presentation about the music he played then at the Rhythmic Conservatory in Copenhagen, Denmark, one of the professors from the conservatory questioned why he plays reggae and not African music when he was from Africa. From that experience, a whole new world of musical possibilities came to life. On return to Zambia that same year, he began a self-taught exploration of traditional African instruments such as the silimba (a home-made marimba), kalimba (mbira/thumb piano), and kalumbu (a one-stringed instrument). Incorporating the use of these instruments into his original compositions, he sings mostly in Chinsenga (language of Nsenga people) and Chichewa (music of the Chewa people).
July 2023
Alongside his scholarly work, he maintain an active performing career, touring and recording music all over the world. Mathew has shared stages with acts such as Oliver Mtukuzi of Zimbabwe, Mulatu Astatke and Mahamud Ahmed both of Ethiopia, Michael Rose, Steven Marley, the Skatalites, and Third World of Jamaica. He was awarded best Afro-fusion for the song “Nandunge” from the album, Anthem, His first album to feature Zambian traditional instruments, at the 2008 Born and Bred Awards in Zambia. He has headlined at festivals such as Millpond 2014 in Bishop, CA, 2014 Umoja Festival in Pittsburgh, PA, and the 2015 Levitt Amp Sheboygan Music Series in Sheboygan, WI. He also has had an opportunity to direct two documentaries on Zambian music. The “Sing Our Own Songs” and “Music of the Bwile People” published in 2007 and 2015 respectively.
Originally a reggae singer only, he began playing Zambian-Pop after an eye-opening experience while touring Europe in 2004. When he was doing a presentation about the music he played then at the Rhythmic Conservatory in Copenhagen, Denmark, one of the professors from the conservatory questioned why he plays reggae and not African music when he was from Africa. From that experience, a whole new world of musical possibilities came to life. On return to Zambia that same year, he began a self-taught exploration of traditional African instruments such as the silimba (a home-made marimba), kalimba (mbira/thumb piano), and kalumbu (a one-stringed instrument). Incorporating the use of these instruments into his original compositions, he sings mostly in Chinsenga (language of Nsenga people) and Chichewa (music of the Chewa people).
July 2023
