THE stage is set for Yo Maps’ name to be engraved into the Zambian history books as the first biggest artistes to fill up the 60,000 capacity National Heroes Stadium Today.
With only a few hours away from the show, everyone is anticipating on the success of the gig as patrons gear-up in dancing shoes of Try Again album launch!
Yo Maps real name Elton Mulenga will not only ‘Trying Again’ alone but with support from his childhood friend and manager DJ Kadeke and wife Kidist Kifle.
He has also assembled a legion likened to the ‘Avengers’ of the Zambian music scene which includes legends, hip hop artistes, singers and many other creatives.
The musicians on the line up include, JK, Danny Kaya, Petersen, Abel Chungu, Slap D, Macky 2, Chanda na Kay, Bobby East Wezi, Dizmo Vinchenzo among other great artistes.
Yesterday during a Hot FM programme, Yo Maps narrated how his first gig was, disclosing that he only got paid 17.5 in 2015 at John Chinena as he was only popular within Kabwe, Central Province at that time.
He told the Hot FM presenters that the organiser, of the show went and picked him up alongside his manager Kandeke with several other invited local artistes in a Ramshackle of a Toyota Corolla, literally carrying 3 times more than it’s capacity as if to fulfil Bobby East’s lyrics “Bakwela bali ten muli one Corolla.”
After reaching the venue in the late evening, Yo Maps was shook, and bedazzled to find the crowd which the organiser had said filled up the venue was full of Kids.
To top it off Kandeke had a flash disk containing different songs and Chester’s music was mistakenly played while Yo Maps was about to start performing.
They switched off the music immediately, however, it did not switch off the mouths of the crowd that started chanting “yamene iyo! (perform the same song).”
The following day after Yo Maps’ performance, the event organiser told him that they had only made K17, and after a bit of confusion ensued following the revelation the organiser’s mother added a 50 Ngwee to make it K17.50.
As if that was not enough embarrassment they had to hike a Canter to take them back home because even the rickety Toyota Corolla they were driven in at the start of the show was no where at sight after they concluded their performance.
Yo Maps said that experience was part of his journey to become who he is “it’s life”.
He said filling up Heroes Stadium is not about making money but for Zambian Music.
“Stadium ikazula che ninshi am done (satisfied).”
“I’m not doing this for money. I’m doing this for Zambian Music,” said Yomaps.
Yo Maps started his music journey in 2008 and three years later he took serious but only got recognised by the whole country in 2018.
He is now considered one of Zambia’s biggest artistes with a huge following and will hope to hit the milestone of filling National Heroes Stadium to become the the first musician to achieve that fit.
By Moses Makwaya
Kalemba May, 27, 2023
