DIVA FROM THE WEST: MoMo DiVa opens up on her musical journey

BORN and bred in Mongu, Western province, Monde Mbanga has gone on to become a household name in her native town - thanks to her role in the entertainment and media industry.

Who is she?

Monde is one of the most acclaimed rappers in the town who goes by her stage name of MoMo DiVa.

Born from Captain Godfrey Numwa Mbanga (retired) and Maureen Imataa Mukelabai Mbanga, in October 1992, Monde is the last born in a family of four which consists of two males and two females.

The Weekend Mail caught up with the budding artiste who apart from being a trained journalist, is also in charge of music programming at Catholic owned and run radio station Oblate Liseli in Mongu.

“In my family, I am the only one doing music,” she says. “I did all my schooling in Mongu - at Mongu Primary School and went to Holy Cross Girls’ Secondary School (now Holy Cross Girls Catholic Secondary School) from grade 8 to 12.

“In 2015, I went to Zambia Institute of Mass Communication Education Trust (ZAMCOM) where I studied a Journalism and Public Relations Diploma up to 2017 and graduated as best overall performing student of two intakes,” she says.

She started singing from a tender age of seven.

“I started music when I was seven years old as the youngest choir member at St. Agatha Parish in the Catholic Diocese of Mongu. I started writing my own music in 2004 when I was in grade eight.

“My mum inspired me to sing because she always sang to me and taught me church songs. Music is one hobby that I share with her, we still sing together.”

She recorded her first professional song titled ‘Moving To The Top’ in 2012.

“It was a love song. It is the song that introduced me to the industry in Western province and I still love it even more, especially now that I am where I wanted to be at the time I was recording it. The growth is amazing,” she adds.

MoMo DiVa

MoMo DiVa who is arguably the most featured female artiste from among her peers in the region has other songs such as Island Ya Lilato which was recorded and produced by Swit Kid. She says she intends to release more music this July.

“I am planning to release an album but at the right time with the hope of making sales, not just free releases,” she says.

She is inspired by award winning Mampi. “My first performance was in 2012 at a closing bash at Mongu Trades Training Institute and in my performance, I was miming to her music.”

She adds: “She has represented Zambian music without fail and I admire that about her. Eminen is my favourite rapper and I am a die-hard fan.”

MoMo DiVa has worked with late Mongu producer and artiste Radikoh on a number of songs including a collaboration called ‘Nitakupahamela’ which featured on ZNBC Radio 2 top 10.

She also worked with Mumble Jumble, a rapper from Immac Music on two songs Western Culture and Singanyenganye. “He is one of my favourite rappers in the province.”

O’Nelly, a R n’ B artiste has also worked with her. He is a record label mate at Fly Time Music and they have a song together titled Sorry, whose studio video is already trending and was recently featured on ZNBC’s Born n’ Bred television show.

Others are Tuks Teezy on a song called Nkondo and also Kaoma based rapper and producer DJ Waz on two songs.

“I am one of the pioneers of Mbunga Music because I was the first female rapper when I started and there are very few female musicians who are still active in the industry from the time I started. I feel I have lasted the test of time being relevant from the time I started,” she says.

MoMo is also Zambia Association of Musicians (ZAM) provincial vice chairperson and has been fighting hard for artistes in the region to breakthrough.

“I have served in ZAM since 2014 and I have so far taken an active role in mobilising artistes and creating platforms for local artistes to perform at all entertainment activities in the province.

“I’m also in charge of music programming at Oblate radio Liseli which enables me to effectively achieve the 50 percent local music airplay policy at the radio station,” she says.

“My music career introduced me to radio broadcasting after my first radio interview in 2012. The on-air experience was so thrilling that I joined them as a part-time presenter in 2013 and I have been until I went to college. Now I am a full-time journalist. They say ‘do what you love and love what you do’ and I am here, living the dream,” she says.