B Flow

B Flow
B Flow during his Dear Mama album launch and the second phase of Go Out and Vote campaign at the American Embassy in Lusaka. (April, 2016)
Born	Brian Mumba Kasoka Bwembya ( 1986-11-12) November 12, 1986 Kabwe, Zambia
Other names	B Flow
Occupation	Singer Musician Songwriter Producer Radio Presenter
Musical career
Genres	Dance-hall Afro-Pop Ragga R&B KaliDanceHall [1]
Instruments	Vocals
Years active	2000-present
Labels	Chant-it-on Music & Media Romaside Money Music ZedWay [2] K-Army
Associated acts	Barack Obama Edgar Lungu Chef 187 Just Slim Macky 2 P Jay

Brian Mumba Kasoka Bwembya (born November 12, 1986) popularly known as B Flow, is a Zambian Dance hall Artist, Social Justice Advocate, Part Time Radio Presenter,^[3] Peer Educator, Founder of Music for Change Initiative and Chairperson of the HIV/AIDS and Social Commentary (HASC) committee of the Zambia Association of Musicians (ZAM).^[4] He is also the global ambassador in the fight against HIV/AIDS for the American organization AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF)^[3] and also the first artist in the world to launch a music album at an Embassy of the United States. The launch was proudly sponsored by the United States ^[1] government through the embassy. The stage name B Flow was inspired by numerous praises from people who loved his Dancehall and hip hop 'flow'. B Flow recently added a new feel to his music, by introducing a new genre which he calls “KaliDanceHall” ( A mix of traditional Zambian Kalindula music and Dance Hall ).^[1]

Early life

B Flow was born in Kabwe on 12th November, 1986. At the age of 8, he and his friends played a small band by turning pots and buckets into drums and making Banjos(non-electric guitars) using tins, planks and strings. Among that band, B Flow was the only one who pursued music professionally.

Brian started out as a member of the Boys' Scout Club at Kasanda Malombe Primary School in Kabwe during his 2nd Grade. He left the club shortly and became a basketball player.

In his 4th Grade, Brian and his mother moved to Serenje where he joined the poetry club at Serenje Boma School and participated in competitions; reciting poems. The following year Brian learned how to beat the African drum and became a drummer and singer in the school cultural group. He was also one of the only two male dancers in the group for 2 years. He moved back to Kabwe after his mother applied for a transfer.

In 8th and 9th Grades, Brian was a member of the Child Rights club at Broadway Basic School in Kabwe.

During his 10th Grade at Kabwe High School, Brian joined the Anti-AIDS/Drug Club where he actively participated in quiz, research and singing. In 3rd term of Grade 10, Brian was elected vice president ^[3] of the club because of his dedication to counselling his fellow students who used to smoke Marijuana and drink alcohol. Brian was instrumental in recruiting more members to the club and teaching other students about HIV and drug abuse. He was later identified and trained by the Kabwe Adventist Family Health Institute(KAFHI) as a peer educator. His club won a number of quiz & talent competitions(Music, Drama and Poetry) on AIDS & Drug awareness in central province. Anti-AIDS/Drug Club Patron and teacher Mr James Chikonde quickly spotted Brian's singing and acting potential. The two began to write songs and short plays for the club. It was around the same time that the name B Flow was amplified and the whole school knew it. B Flow became a high school star when he performed his first song 'Osalila' in 11th Grade.

In 12th Grade, B Flow was elected School President (Headboy), a position he held until he graduated from high school.

After his final year in High School, B Flow moved to Lusaka to live with his uncles and enrolled into University. He studied Marketing and Social Science at the National Institute of Public Administration and University of Zambia respectively. While in University, B Flow was selected for a Peer Educators' training, sponsored by the Society For Family Health(SFH) in 2008. The training increased his knowledge in HIV/AIDS prevention and community work.

In 2011, B Flow started to apply his advocacy knowledge in his music. In his 2011 hit song 'Chitemene System', B Flow denounced infidelity among married men.

Music and career

Lawyer Ignatius Chongwe nicknamed as Lawyer Without Boarders [sic] discovered B Flow's singing talent during a talent show at Sacred Heart Parish in Kabwe in 2004. Later that year, Mr Chongwe sponsored B Flow's first professional studio session at Romaside Studio to record his first song called 'Osalila' (Don't Cry). Although the song did not receive the most needed airplay, B Flow used it to audition with various studios in search of a record deal. He was turned down by most of the well-known studios in Zambia between 2005 and 2008 but that did not stop him from writing songs for his first album. In December 2008, Trevor Kalaluka Siyandi, popularly known as TK, decided to give B Flow a record deal after the later impressed the former on two songs where he was featured by other artists.

B Flow's first album Mpu mpu mpu (meaning heartbeat)was released in 2009. The album earned B Flow recognition at the 2009 Zambia Ngoma Awards where he was nominated in the Best New Artist Category the album has songs like Bubblegum Lover, Energizer, Mosikito and the album title track Mpu Mpu Mpu. His second solo album called 'No More Kawilo' was released in 2011(meaning no more loneliness). His third album 'Voiceless Woman' was released in 2013. He also had the privilege to share the stage with international artists such as Brick & Lace, Oliver Mtukuzi, P-Square and Jah Cure.^[5][6] B Flow is a brand ambassador for two non-governmental organizations known as AIDS Health Care Foundation(AHF) and USAID-funded SHARe II ^[7] he is also the chairman for the HIV/AIDS and Social Commentary(HASC) team of the Zambia Association of Musicians(ZAM). B Flow is also a part of the Zambia/Norway(ZedWay) project.^[2]

Music and election

During the launch of his fifth album, Dear Mama, B Flow also launched his "Go Out and Vote" campaign phase II with his partner, Young Women in Action.^[8] To deliver the voter education message to the youth ensured that the targeted voters be ready, willing, and able to participate fully in the 2016 election process in Zambia.^[9] The Go Out To Vote ^[10] project aims at addressing voter apathy amongst young people in Zambia by encouraging them to register as voters, verify their details in the voter register and finally go out and vote during the 2016 elections.

Triple V Campaign

Triple V which stands for My Vote, My Voice, My Victory ^[10] is a voter ^[11][12] education project which motivates young and newly registered voters to go out and vote in the August 2016. Triple reaches out to young voters through music and social media.

The project is currently working with B Flow,^[13] Kan 2 and Dj 800 in undertaking roadshows. During the roadshows, the artists sensitise young people on the important of participating in elections.

Negative response

The campaign has been a successful program but in 2015 while in Mongu B-Flow and fellow Triple V members got some negative response as some fans eneded up crashing B-Flow's car during the aftermath of the show.^[14][15]

Young African leaders initiative

In 2015 the United States Embassy in Zambia, selected B Flow to represent Zambia in President Obama's Young African Leaders Initiative ( Mandela Washington Fellowship ). He participated in the US government sponsored program for 3 months in different US cities.

During the program United States President Barack Obama addressed over 700 young Africans and ^[16] US officials and made a speech in which he endorsed B Flow ^{[17] [19]} for his excellent work in using his music to advocate against gender based violence and educating youth on HIV/AIDS. President Obama also announced the formation of B Flow's record company. B Flow is first artist in the world to be endorsed ^[16] by a US president publicly. Obama's Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI), also awarded B Flow a highly competitive Professional Development Experience (PDE) to work in the American music industry with US company, Okayafrica, in New York.

American organisation AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) ^[3] also appointed B Flow as global ambassador in the fight against HIV/AIDS. He is part of the organization's global 20 by 20 Campaign.

Awards and nominations

Other Awards

1. 2013 HIV/AIDS Awareness Ambassadors' Certificate - USAID Funded SHARe II Project
2. 2014 Zambian representative at Africa Re-imagination Creative Hub(ARCH) - African Union, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
3. 2015 International Associate Award - Wagner College, Staten Island, New York
4. 2015 Recognition of Excellence - President Barack Obama, United States of America
5. 2015 Rising Star Award - New York Mwape Peer Awards

6. 2016 Gender Based Violence Activist Award - Touching Lives Awards, Zambia

7. 2016 Global Heroes Award - Global Heroes Platform, Canada

Discography

Studio albums

References

External links

• Fan Page
• Twitter Account
• On iTunes