Theresa Ng'ambi

Kanjiba (born Theresa Ng'ambi) is an Afro-traditional musician from Lusaka, Zambia.

Grew up as a music lover with preferences in traditional music percussion, jazz, blues and soul. Raised by a single mother and inspired by nature with an influence of old story (folk) songs from her grandmother. Following her grandfather’s footsteps, a retired miner and a Kalimba player, she developed interest in singing and writing ethenal music at the age of 5. The tragic events of losing her parents, brother, grandparents at young age, Theresa decided to write a diary of her life through music.

Her passion for music made her audition for a spot to start her professional career and during this period, Chali Mulalami a producer, spotted her and signed her with Sling Beats Records.Her First single recorded was "Watembeleredwa". Later, she entered a competition for live music called ‘The Music Crossroads’ which included young artist from East and Southern African countries. This competition nurtured her into loving African music on acoustic guitar and percussive instruments. She studied music and English at Evelyn Hone College, while in school she formed a student band that had a few commercial gigs at corporate events and National Commemoration functions for three years. she professionally shared stages, with both local and international artist.

Theresa Ng`ambi, later re-entered the Crossroads competition as Theresa and Friends (Nyali) band singing afro fusion and scooped the first prize. Later, she released another single called` Mandu` as a solo artist which had good response on air play in local stations
Mandu attracted our local and international platforms on culture exchange programs. The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) also featured her on their entertainment segment `back to the roots` that gave her songs air play with an intimate interview on BBC Africa for one week.

The lessons she received from school, life experiences on stage and workshops on cultural exchange programs groomed her to become confident in her own skills. In Livingstone she recorded her first album of 10 songs under Passions Records called `Mandu`. It aired across radio stations in both Livingstone and Zimbabwe. Theresa Ng`ambi won the Best Singer at the Zambia Women In Music Awards in 2018 and she’s been the Birdwatch of Zambia’s Bird Conservation Ambassador. Passionate with nature she wrote a campaign song `samalilani` on climate change and preservation of nature featuring local renowned artist.She has been touring schools and other platforms like International School of Lusaka, orphanages, universities sensitising against tree cutting and animal poaching.

Theresa Ng`ambi has been featured on TEDx talk and spoke on preservation through story telling and a song. She believes true art is truth within and originality.She has extended her love of art through story telling sessions with children, composing music in films, for example, UBUNTU a series on Zambezi Magic Dstv with YCF art space,SHAWA , MUSHALA on Muvi TV, kids fashion show supporting albinos, disabled and the underprivileged children.

she is working with a few art spaces like Modzi Arts, International School of Lusaka,...