Mirriam Mukape (born 4 August 1986), is a Zambian Pop and R&B singer who performs under the stage name Mampi. Her music is kwaito and reggae inspired.
Early life
Mampi was born in Lusaka on 4 August 1986. She started singing in church at the age of six. She attended Muyooma Basic School, Libala High School, and the Springfields Coaching Centre in Lusaka.
Mampi lost her mother to cancer at the age of 14 and a few years later at the age of 16, her father and brother were murdered in circumstances that the singer has never revealed to the public.
Life drastically changed for Mampi. She found herself homeless at times and was not able to further her education. She cites prayer and being taken in by a friend’s sister as what got her through the tough time in her life.
Music and career
It was around the time of the loss of her brother and father, that Mampi was discovered by a music producer and signed a record deal in 2003. She released her first album Maloza in 2005. It included the song “Sunshya”, which she performed for her first appearance on Television Zambia. Her second album, Chimo ni chimo, was released in 2007. She performed in Namibia for the first time in 2012, at Windhoek.
In 2012 she released another album Natural Born Star.
In 2015 Portuguese singer , Luyanna, released a version of Mampi’s hit track Walilowelela. The track still has Mampi singing some lines in Bemba and Nyanja while Luyanna sings other lines in Portuguese.[
The track which was accompanied by a video that was heavily inspired by African culture. Though she did not appear in the video with Luyanna, the two appeared in a music video of a new version of a previously released track, Why by Mampi.
In December 2017 Mampi released the single “Nyula Yako” from an upcoming album set to be released in 2018 of the same title. The dance hall inspired song was accompanied by a music video.
In the same month Mampi joined a stellar line up of African musicians including South African Award winning DJ Black Coffee to close off the year at the Vic Falls Carnival
Big Brother Africa
Mampi was a contestant during the seventh season of Big Brother Africa 7 as one of the celebrity housemates on the seventh season of the reality competition television series Big Brother Africa StarGame. Mampi was evicted from Big Brother Africa on 27 May 2012; she was in the house for 21 days.
