The making of T-Sean, Zambia's dancehall daddy...

ALTHOUGH a cliche, it is still true that you cannot talk about the current Zambian dancehall scene without mentioning T-Sean.

The talented artiste is one of, if not the most consistent dancehall acts in the country.

A singer, songwriter, performer, producer, sound engineer and children’s rights activist, T-Sean who was born as Richard Mulenga has worked with almost all well established artistes and also underground talents.

T-Sean boasts of a long list of hits. These include Boza, Wonder Why featuring B1, Nalishiba featuring Judy, Daily Daily featuring Hamoba, Lekelela Bokosi, Tako, Osoba, Mulipo, Ordinary Girl, Adam, Dear Wanga, Pyepye, Don’t Lead Me On which is a duet with close friend T-Bwoy, Speedometer Burnup, Balance It Up, Umoyo, Try Again and Mayeso.

He has certainly come a long way.

After completing high school, the father of this former Daina Kaimba and Mkushi Secondary School pupil noticed that his son had interest in computers and therefore bought him one which he used to set up his first studio called Bedroom Studio.

On the song Mulipo, he thanks all those who helped him in kick starting his career including his father.
However, his interest in music though started from a young age.

He remembers singing in the Sunday School at Church and then playing drums during his high school days. In fact, he remembers composing his first song in Grade Seven.
As a composer, T-Sean is well respected.

And rightly so.

As a songwriter, T-Sean has written for the likes of Judy, T-Bwoy, Macky II, Kantu, Ruff Kid, late Joe Chibangu and Dambisa.

Some of the notable hits he has written or co-written include Where You Are (Judy), I Miss You (T-Bwoy featuring Chef 187), Kuti Umvele (Dambisa), Bana Chanda (Macky II), and Wilafulwa (Joe Chibangu).

But when he set up the Bedroom Studio, it was easy to create a song as he had no professional music production skills.

Now, it has all come good.

T-Sean, also known as DJ Baila, is into dancehall/afro beat. His influences though are Oliver Mtukudzi, Bob Marley, Beenie Man, Dr Dre, Timbaland and Amayenge Asoza.

He is somewhat the bridge between the old school ZedBeat and the new; he can comfortably switch styles and still sound amazing. It is about the dancehall tone, a heavy Afro pop Influence, and traces of hip-hop.

T-Sean has albums like Adam (The Definition), 90 Days, nominated for the Mosi Zambian Music Award (ZMA) 2014 Best Dancehall Album, Mu Mirror, Time Bomb, which won a string of awards including the ZMA 2015 Best Dancehall Album, Born & Bred Best R’n’B Video of the Year 2015, Born & Bread Video of the Year 2015 through the song Umoyo, Comfort Zone, Faith and his latest offering Grateful.

Recently, he released a six track EP titled Escobar.

“The EP is strictly hip-hop and dancehall beats and on it I have tried to work with a number of artistes and producers,” he says.

Some of T-Sean’s most popular songs are Boza, Wonder Why featuring B1, Nalishiba featuring Judy, Daily Daily featuring Hamoba, Lekelela Bokosi, Tako, Osoba, Mulipo, Ordinary Girl, Adam, Dear Wanga and Pyepye.

Others are Don’t Lead Me On, a duet with close friend T-Bwoy, Speedometer Burnup, Balance It Up, Umapatefye, Umoyo, Try Again and Mayeso.

As a songwriter, T-Sean has written for the likes of Judy, T-Bwoy, Macky II, Kantu, Ruff Kid, Joe Chibangu and Dambisa.

Some of the notable hits he has written or co-written include Where You Are (Judy), I Miss You (T-Bwoy featuring Chef 187), Kuti Umvele (Dambisa), Bana Chanda (Macky II), Wilafulwa (Joe Chibangu), Million (T-Sean).

In 2010, T Sean got signed to K-Amy Studio under which he released a number of singles which enjoyed healthy radio play and burst local music charts. He then released his first album Adam in 2012, which with songs like Wonder Why, Show Your Swag, the title-track and Sinizaibala, T-Sean was announced on the scene as a musician to look out for.

He earned multiple nominations at the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) Born and Bred Music Video Awards.

On stage in Livingstone.

He followed it up with 90 Days, which produced a chain of hit singles that took over airwaves like Boza, Dear Wanga and Awe.

In 2014, he released his third studio album titled Time Bomb, which confirmed that he was not a one hit wonder; the album garnered him nine nominations in various music competitions, particularly at the ZMA and Born and Bred.

He set to launch it in October 2014 at the Barclays Sports Complex.

The album launch, which was to be his first ever promised to be a sellout - but it didn’t happen as it was disrupted by heavy rains even before the artiste could step on the stage.

“I still remember that day like it was just yesterday. I was so eager to just get on the stage and do my thing. I had prepared even too,” he says.

T-Sean, one of the biggest local brands and most sought after acts, runs a record label called Buzy Baila International (formerly Bizzy Baila), producing a number of hits such as Nana’s Booty Call (T-Sean featuring Slap Dee), Lolo Lolo (Macky II featuring Izrael), She a Bomb (DJ Cosmo featuring Kayombo), Filekefye (Damiano), Bana Chanda (Macky II featuring T-Sean), Mulipo (T-Sean) as well his duet with T-Bwoy Don’t Lead Me On.

Under his Buzy Baila label, he has signed the likes of T-Sean, D-Stereo, UNIQ Skillz and The lady Beauty.

Not content with the success, T-Sean on May 26 in 2016, released two albums; Faith and Comfort Zone, one for the local market and the other, a strictly dancehall albuX have singles like Osoba, Will You Marry Me?, Really Mine featuring Roberto and You Hot featuring J Rox.

On the same day, May 26, 2016, T-Sean launched an initiative called Daddy Cares (DCI), which is aimed at promoting the well-being of children in society, especially the under-privileged.

"I would like to help build an environment that will see children grow up and develop into responsible citizens; an environment that is violence free, abuse free and without any form of exploitation,” T-Sean says.

"I realised that I have a rare gift; an artiste that can bring politicians, religious leaders, teachers and lawyers in one place. I want to build a better society by being an ambassador for children. I want to be an artiste that will speak for them. An artiste that will echo their little voices to the whole world that’s what Daddy Cares Initiative is about.”

His vision is to see this Initiative grow and touch the lives of children, families and communities where these kids come from. In line with the same, T-Sean is also working in partnership with Child Fund International as a children’s rights ambassador.

“My focus is on helping build a better Zambia, a better Africa and a better world for children.”

He didn’t stop there.

In 2017, T-Sean was among the local artistes that performed at the Mosi Day of Thunder annual music festival in Livingstone.

Other follow up albums include Grateful and the Escobar EP.

To this day, the artiste who is married and with one child has set up the Baila Empire Music, a label under Buzy Baila International that is aimed at giving a platform to talented up and coming artistes to blossom.

T-Sean’s other moniker is Thee High Grade as is his DJ Baila alter ego.

NSUKO: In fashion and here to stay, despite all the health risks

NSUNKO: The dark brownish snuff that an increased number of love makers has resorted to in an effort to enhance their sexual drive. PICTURE: NDANGWA MWITTAH

HOW far can you go to enjoy sex? While you are at it, pondering what to answer, in an effort to enjoy this sacred act, some love makers have resorted to using snuff, otherwise known as nsunko to enhance their sexual drive.

When this reporter posted about nsunko and bulungu (waist beads) on his Facebook page, the comments were quite mystifying to say the least.

Gift Nkandu commented by saying the trend was a growing one, but that he wouldn’t allow it. Of course, Gift did not give reasons.

Another one, Kanekwa Tundashi, said there was also ‘sweet lady’ and ‘full force’ which apparently goes with nsunko too.

But what really is this nsunko all about? And how true are the many notions that surround it? Does it really keep Blood Pressure (BP) levels in check as they say?

Is it in any way a sex booster? Does it really tighten? Does it up the body temperature and relax the muscles as it is claimed? Is it even safe to use?

These and a lot more other questions could be on many people’s minds, but just never asked.

Esther Lungu is a hawker in Choma. She sells oranges, groundnuts, bananas and sometimes an assortment of merchandise such as pegs and cooking sticks.

She also sells nsunko – the dark brownish powdered snuff that has all of a sudden become the talk of the ‘town’.

She does so discreetly. For reasons best known to herself.

Asked what it’s used for, Esther who was accompanied by another woman, said “vamene ivo vamene munamvela,” loosely translated as whatever you may have heard.

But the stories about it are too numerous to say the least.

Prudence Tembo, 23 has used it before as a sex booster and does not fancy trying it again. “Wait! You know about nsunko?” she asks before adding, “That thing is terrible I tell you! I've tried it once and never again will I ever use it.”

Apparently, there are plenty of methods of using it. Apart from sniffing the tobacco, others are putting the snuff on a cloth and insert in their private parts, for some extra warmth down there. So they claim.

Prudence says the drug makes you drowsy to an extent that the blood flow in the body is superfast, hence making the body warm.

“It just makes you drowsy. It is very bad. It got me nauseated the whole night. I can't! Never again!” she emphasises.

She adds, “Oh! It's really funny. Even men do these things. I used to find herbs in my boyfriend’s house though I never used to ask him about them. But I would find even those gels that are sold for sex and all in the bedroom. There was also this certain coffee which was extremely good for body warmth. I used to take it too.”

So, yeah, it seems ‘warmth’ is everything in this sacred act.

Mary Nyongo otherwise known as Mama Nyongo, is a marriage counselor and is aware of the use of nsunko, especially among women.

“Nsunko nifwaka wamumphuno (it’s the type of tobacco that you sniff through your nose) and from what I have gathered about it, my sister and others say it helps to bring down their BP. I don't know whether this is true or not though,” she says.

There’s more.

She says one of her clients, (name withheld) told her that the substance is, by others used as a substitute to smoking cigarettes.

“One of my clients in America told me that those that want to avoid cigarettes especially those that are hypersensitive, use what is called snuff. They put it under their tongue and it helps to calm them down. Otherwise, both are simply drugs,” she says.

Furthermore, Mama Nyongo says the nsunko was there even in the olden days, but adds that the modern day nsunko, is usually mixed with what she called drugs and to be used as a sexual stimulant.

“One person told me that once she takes it, she feels horny. That is why it has become very common among these young ladies, they mix with drugs for them to get high and secondly, to boost their sexual feelings,” she says.

She says in traditional Africa, women knew the role sex played in marriage and went to great lengths to make themselves even erogenous.

“This was actually a preserve of elderly women back them. Old ladies even used to put an African medicine called nyang’anya in porridge to boost their sexual desire but the young ladies of today are using nsunko mixed with drugs for the same reason,” she says.

Some men also use nsunko.

“You can either sniff it or just put it in the mouth under the tongue to let it absorb there. It’s not a bad thing actually, for as long it works for me,” says Abel Moonga of Choma.

The Traditional Health Practitioners Association of Zambia (THPAZ) is also aware of the growing trend of the use of nsunko for various purposes. The association’s take on the matter is an open-minded one.

Dr Rodwell Vongo, the association’s president says THPAZ cannot condemn any person using the substance but advises that care should be taken before and when using such items, especially those that have not been subjected to scientific research.

“We know that people use these herbs in various ways and for various purposes. Sometimes, even munkoyo, which makes a good drink can also be harmful, depending on the toxicity levels. So, people can use these things, but they should be careful. Scientific research is equally important, just like is the case with Sondashi Formula,” he says.

Others argue that sex should be enjoyed with natural secretion. They argue that there was a danger in using herbs because any friction could lead to injuries and some bruises which could as well be points of entry for the HIV/AIDS virus.

The Ministry of Health is however discouraging use of the substance which it says is a stimulant. A simple definition of a stimulant is that it’s simply a substance that increases levels of psychological or nervous activity in the body.

A common example of such substances is cocaine and marijuana.

Health Minister, Dr Chitalu Chilufya says the chemical component of nsunko is mainly that of nicotine, a nitrogen containing chemical – an alkaloid, which is made by several types of plants, including the tobacco plant.

It can either stimulate or depress the nervous system.

The more reason Chainama Hills Hospital advises against the growing trend of using the substance as it has the potential of making them violent.

“It is not scientifically proven that nsunko can stimulate someone sexually. Some people might even be depressed by it instead of being stimulated,” Mary Banda, the senior nursing officer at the hospital was recently quoted as saying.

A recent investigation by the Daily Vox of South Africa established that though snuff is smokeless, it is addictive and dangerous.

The World Health Organisation warns that snuff causes oral, esophageal and pancreatic cancer.

“Young women have become so desperate to please men to a point that they would insert something so toxic into their genitals, and sadly they aren’t even aware of the danger associated with the substance,” the Daily Vox observed in one of its publications.

It also established that the sexual claims associated with snuff are myths and people who use it intravaginally risk getting cervical cancer.

However, nsunko is not listed as a prohibited substance under the Narcotic and Psychotropic Substances Act Cap 96 of the Laws of Zambia. As such, the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) can only do so much regards the substance.

Theresa Katongo is Public Relations Officer at the DEC and says all that the commission does regards the sale and use of nsunko is sensitise people against abusing the substance.

“Therefore, it is very difficult for us to make any arrests because the drug is not listed as a prohibited drug. But we are aware that people sell and use it. Just like we have been doing with all these other psychotropic substances, people shouldn’t abuse these things,” she says.

Whether the stories about it are true or not, at least one known fact is that it’s not a prohibited drug, and clearly, love makers will definitely go out of their way to enjoy the sacred act despite all the threats to their health.