PilAto
Speaking at the 2021 World Economic Forum
Born
Fumba Chama

(1984-04-06) 6 April 1984[1]
Ndola, Zambia
Other namespilAto
Occupations
  • Musician
  • Songwriter
  • Poet
Musical career
Genres
Years active2009–present
Labels
  • Alpha Entertainments
  • Money Music[2]
Websiteiampilato.com

Fumba Chama (born 6 April 1984), known professionally as Pilato, is a Zambian hip hop recording artist from Ndola. The name Pilato written as pilAto[1] is an acronym for People in Lyrical Arena Taking Over.[3] Born and raised in the Copperbelt province, pilAto commenced his career as a poet at the age of 10, before formally moving into the music industry in 2010, when poetry became his music. Pilato has released three studio albums.[4]

Musical career

pilAto's music is largely broad-spectrum social commentary with generous overtones of contemporary hip hop after starting out as a poet. Pilato is referred to as the "voice of the voiceless",[3] he is known to be a relevant voice in the dispensation of Democracy in Zambia.pilAto has managed to affix art and music on the political picture in Zambia today. In 2010 Pilato won the Ngoma Award as Zambia's Best Poet. He was later nominated for Best Music Video at the Born & Bred Awards in 2011.

Music and politics

In between the year 2010 and 2011 at the beginning of he's transition to a human rights activist he had released a song satirically referring to some non-performing Zambian MP's as "Mental Patients". In 2013, he recorded a single entitled "Bufi" featuring Petersen, a highly politically charged song that labeled the late President Michael Sata a "Father of Lies".[5] The song got a negative feed back as the supporters of the ruling party were up in arms and he claims he received numerous death threats over the song. In 2015 Pilato showed his support for opposition leader Hakainde Hichilema and put up regular performances at his rally's countrywide. His support for Mr Hichilema failed to clinch him State House; the PF won the election[6] in what was one of the tightest election victories ever recorded since Zambia reverted to plural politics. 6 months later he recorded a song of Nashil Pischen Kazembe's 1970s hit "Aphiri Anabwela" but he changed the lyrics to "Alungu Anbwela".[7] Unapologetic, the musician was bundled up and slapped with[8][9] charges of conduct likely to breach peace .[10] His case drew widespread media coverage even beyond Zambian borders.[11][12][13] Pilato on record was arrested once in his career over his songs[14] that were considered as conduct likely to breach peace.

2013–2015

In 2013 some rumours spread that pilAto was arrested[5] over the song "Bufi". In the song Pilato and Petersen sing about broken promises like cheap fuel, construction of roads and job opportunities for young people. They used words like Boza, Bufi, Ulabeja, Wenye, which all mean the same thing: lies. But all these reports where dismissed by the Lusaka Police Chief Joyce Kasosa[15] that Pilato has been detained over his latest song titled Bufi. The police Chef said the police department have not recorded any such incident and that Pilato is still a free citizen.[16] Pilato also then confirmed saying he had not been to any police station.[17][18] In June 2015 Pilato was arrested[19] over a song remix of the legendary Nashil Pischen Kazembe's Aphiri Anabwela but featuring Pilato's lyrics which call President Lungu[14] "a drunk," among several other insults. After he got out jail,[20] Pilato said he cannot defame the Head of State with his song and that he was just merely bringing out his message.

Awards and nominations

  • 2010 – Award for Zambia's Best Poet – Ngoma Awards.
  • 2011 – Nominated For Best Video – Born & Bred Awards.
  • 2014 – Award For Best Collaboration – Zambia Music Awards.
  • 2014 – Nominated For Most Conscious Song Category – Born & Bred Awards

Discography

Albums

  • The Forsaken Prophecy[21] – 2015[22]
  • Just Stupid – 2014[23]
  • Judy's – 2012[2]

Selected songs

  • pilAto - Ichashishita
  • PilAto – Bwetete'
  • PilAto – Hello (Kesulenifye) (Adele Cover) – 2015
  • PilAto – Ba Peggy
  • PilAto – Alungu Anbwela[7]
  • PilAto – Bufi (lies)
  • PilAto – Mirror (Lil Wayne cover) – 2011

References

  1. 1 2 "Pilato biography". iampilato.com. Archived from the original on 22 September 2017. Retrieved 23 October 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  2. 1 2 "Money Music Releases Pilato, Judy's Albums". The Zambian. Retrieved 29 March 2016.
  3. 1 2 "Pilato biography". MTV. Retrieved 29 March 2016.
  4. ↑ By Julia Malunga, Sipilisiwe Ncube. "We'll not be bribed by K30m – Pilato". Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  5. 1 2 "Singer Pilato arrested for 'Bufi' song". Zambia Watchdog. Retrieved 29 March 2016.
  6. ↑ Hichilema, Hakainde (24 January 2015). "Edgar Lungu steals election". hh-zambia.com. Archived from the original on 27 January 2015. Retrieved 29 March 2016.
  7. 1 2 "Read Pilato's Alungu Anabwela Song Lyrics". Phil Dill. Retrieved 29 March 2016.
  8. ↑ "Satirical musician Pilato arrested, charged". zambiawatchdog.com. Retrieved 29 March 2016.
  9. ↑ "Pilato arrested, charged". ZNBC News. Retrieved 29 March 2016.
  10. ↑ "Pilato pleads not guilty, released on bail". Lusaka Times. Retrieved 29 March 2016.
  11. ↑ "Pilato reconciles with PF". ZNBC. Retrieved 14 April 2017.
  12. ↑ "Pilato Reconciles with PF…Washes Hands Off UPND". Lusaka Times. Retrieved 14 April 2017.
  13. ↑ "Pilato Joins PF". Tio Zambia. Retrieved 14 April 2017.
  14. 1 2 "Zambian police arrest musician for mocking president". Yahoo! News. Retrieved 29 March 2016.
  15. ↑ "Pilato was never arrested, reveals police". Zambian Intelligence News. Retrieved 29 March 2016.
  16. ↑ "Musician 'Pilato' is a free citizen-Police". Lusaka Times. Retrieved 29 March 2016.
  17. ↑ "I have not been arrested – 'Bufi' Singer Pilato". Zambian Eye. Retrieved 29 March 2016.
  18. ↑ "I have not been arrested – 'Bufi' Singer Pilato". Zambia News Network. Retrieved 29 March 2016.
  19. ↑ "Musician Pilato Arrested Over Song". Zambia Reports. Retrieved 29 March 2016.
  20. ↑ "I will not apologise says Pilato as Police probe the musician". Lusaka Times. Retrieved 29 March 2016.
  21. ↑ "Album Review: The Forsaken Prophesy by PilAto (The Anticipation)". Phil Dill. Retrieved 29 March 2016.
  22. ↑ "Pilato releases new album". Record Union. Retrieved 29 March 2016.
  23. ↑ "pilAto". Zed Music Vibes. 29 January 2019. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
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