Nkwazi Unfiltered

25 guests down, 0 hosts interviewed...until now. ⁠
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Chana Musakanya and Kamiza Chikula have spent the year having insightful and entertaining conversations with some of Zambia’s most popular figures; now the mics have turned! ⁠
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For this special final episode of 2025, they're interviewing each other. Watch them recap their year in interviews and find out if they’re as good at answering questions as they are at asking them... ⁠

#podcast #interview #christmasspecial

With her distinct and powerful voice, Sampa the Great masterfully blends hip-hop, spoken word, and African traditions into an authentic sound that has garnered her a devoted fan base. Her artistic and professional trajectory has taken her all over the world - gracing the stages of Glastonbury and Coachella along the way!⁠
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We finally got to sit down with the award-winning artist to discuss her origin story and the voyage to get to where she is now. We also talk about the allure of disappearing and the price that comes with being a pioneer in a foreign land. 

Fisho Mwale. ⁠The entrepreneur, former Mayor of Lusaka, and co-founder of Yalelo, one of Zambia's leading aquaculture companies, is our unfiltered guest this week.⁠
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Mwale discusses the financial highs and lows of his career, the challenges of public service, and the personal losses he’s incurred along the way. He also recounts Yalelo's early days and flirts with the idea of writing a memoir.⁠
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It's a long one, so get comfortable and enjoy our unguarded conversation with a man whose life has been nothing short of well-lived. ⁠

When you go viral for the wrong reasons, crawling under a rock would be a decision many would understand, but Naomie Pilula didn't. She opted to continue living her life and showing up unapologetically.

Since then, the University of Cavendish-educated lawyer has gained significant international attention (including an interview with People magazine) and followers on social media, where she uses her platform to share her love of fashion, zest for life, and promote self-love.

Pilula sat down with Chana Musakanya for an exclusive interview and we were fortunate enough to get to know the woman behind the viral moment.

Dr Aaron Mujajati's had to learn how to walk twice, failed Grade 7, and to his surprise, ended up a doctor. Today, he uses social media and humour to teach Zambians about health. 

The very busy doctor made a studio call, and we had an insightful conversation about his growing up in Chaisa, why he chose hospitals over courtrooms, and conquering medical school at UNZA.

Kamiza Chikula sits down with Dr Gabriel Pollen, the Permanent Secretary in Zambia’s Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, a proud member of the 5 a.m. club, a passionate motorcyclist, and a relentless pursuer of self-improvement. The two spoke about Pollen’s work ethic, the challenges that redirected his path, and why he believes personal discipline is the foundation for serving others. 

Pamela Pio, General Manager - Corporate Services and Company Secretary for our sponsor, MTN Zambia! Pio is a seasoned legal professional with extensive expertise across diverse areas, including mining, energy, and diplomacy. 

Through her work, Pio plays a crucial role in ensuring MTN Zambia operates with integrity, compliance, and strong corporate governance. 

She took us through her professional journey (including a few humorous anecdotes), the pressures of working in telecoms, and how she moved on after suffering great personal losses. 

We were excited to learn more about MTN Zambia and Pio, who she is and what it takes to power Zambia’s #1 Network. 

Known as "The Radical Entrepreneur," Dumisani Lingamangali Ncube is a businessman, author, and motivational speaker who started his journey by selling geography pamphlets as a teenager. Ncube's incredible story of building the multi-faceted DLN Group from the ground up proves just how far ambition paired with hard work can take you.

The legendary frontman (and sole surviving founding member) of W.I.T.C.H., Emmanuel "Jagari" Chanda, graces us with his presence! ⁠
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Chanda founded the band that would become known as the "Zambian Beatles" in 1972, with them recorded the country's first commercial album, and endured decades of silence as economic collapse and tragedy claimed the lives of his bandmates.⁠
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After nearly 40 years away from music, he returned to the stage with a new multinational line-up, releasing acclaimed albums Zango and Sogolo while touring the world as the guardian of Zamrock's legacy. ⁠

In this episode, Chanda discusses how he never dreamt of ending up on the stage and the influence of traditional chants, weddings filled with singing, and stolen moments with his brother's radio on his taste in music. We also get into the philosophy behind W.I.T.C.H.’s ethos of “causing havoc”, which is far from literal disruption, and his thoughts on the music industry today.

This episode is sponsored by MTNZambia, connecting you to the people and opportunities that matter most.

A giant of the Zambian film industry, Lawrence Thompson is a filmmaker and producer known for his work on Kabanana, Makofi, and Can You See Us?, the first Zambian film to premiere on Netflix.

Thompson began his career as a cameraman for international broadcasters, including Reuters and The Associated Press, before founding Centripetal Media Zambia.

In this sit-down, we delve into his childhood in colonial-era Thornpark, his early influences, and unexpected career shifts. Thompson also shares about the personal sacrifices that allowed him to bring Kabanana, Zambia’s first soap opera, to the screen and how he pushed through an industry with little infrastructure.

This episode is sponsored by @MTNZambia, connecting you to the people and opportunities that matter most.