Africa Is a Country

Songs for Chipolopolo

Songs for Chipolopolo

By
Charles Mafa

The Zambian journalist canvassed his friends for a playlist of top Zambian tunes praising their footballing heroes.

Zambian fans (Image: Andrew Codrington, via Flickr CC)

It’s death or glory today for defending champions Zambia, who must beat Burkina Faso to make it to the quarter-finals of the 2013 African Cup of Nations in South Africa. Anything less will be a significant disappointment. Just in case the Chipolopolo Boys, as the team is known, need a confidence booster ahead of the big match and remember what this all means to the fans back home, here’s our playlist of top Zambian tunes in praise of their heroes.

We start with “Vuvuzela” by Shimba Boyd, a captivating song urging the Zambian team to show them how to play the game. It is a popular hit in bars, taverns, nightclubs, and radio and television, especially when Zambia plays.

Next up is “Mad Chipolopolo,” a song by MADD featuring Rearn, thanking God for the beautiful colors of Zambia: orange (mineral wealth), green (vegetation), red (blood during independence), and black for the people.

Here’s MC Wabwino with “Chipololopolo” (a popular title for this). Mkunsha Chembe, the elephant of Zambian music, doesn’t want to be left out as he sings Chipolopolo. (It’s Chipolopolo if you want to dance!).

If your enthusiasm hasn’t been stoked, it will be when you’ve heard Leo Muntu with “Zambia Let’s Go.” It is a famous track in bars, on radios, and television. Top marks for dancing.

We’ll leave it with MC Wabwino to round things off. Here’s “Ona Kayako Chipolopolo,” another beauty from last year praising the dribbling skills of the Zambian players (listen for the name-checks).

  • This is the fourth in a series of national playlists for teams participating in the 2013 African Cup of Nations in South Africa.

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