•Manu Chauhan (right) enjoying a light moment with his family.

Zambian music underwent a lot of transformation during the 1970s where rock was the in thing.
In also, came Kalindula and Manchancha music, which was among the many sounds that were bred towards the end of that rock era.
While that was the case, there were some musicians that took different channels to explore other types of music away from Zamrock.
Among such musicians was Manu Chauhan who happened to be in the middle of Zamrock but exploring his own style of music.
Manu is perhaps the first Zambian of Asian origin to release an album in Zambia.
He first performed on Zambian television music programme, “Today’s Folk Music” at Kitwe studios when he was only 17 years old.
Manu has also performed with some of Zambia’s legendary bands such as the Big Gold Six and Tinkles who later changed the name to Super Max 5, as well as other Zamrock bands.
Though Manu is no stranger to Zamrock music he is very much alive to it but his portion really, is country music which he has pursued all along.
“Mine is country music and I listened much to Cliff Richard and Jim Reeves among them,” Manu said in a recent interview.
Manu, who started music while at School at the age of 12, has worked hard to come up with his own type of music which has been greatly appreciated by his fans including first president Dr Kenneth Kaunda.
He came into the limelight  when  he released a famous campaign song for Dr Kaunda and his party UNIP, called Only KK in 1984, which received massive air play on the then Zambia Broadcasting Services(ZBS) the forerunner to Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation(ZNBC).
This single was probably the stepping stone for Manu and went on to release the first album, Thunder and Ligthining in 1981 before unleashing Witch Doctor in 1883 and followed it up with Best of Manu Chauhan featuring Pretty Woman in 1984.
He has also done songs in honour of the Zambia national team which  perished  off the coast of Gabon in 1994, as well as a single on the devastating effects of HIV/Aids pandemic which was recorded in Harare , Zimbabwe while, the video on the same  song was done at Mission Press In Ndola.
Manu was born at Thompson Hospital in Luanshya in 1958 and went to school at Asoka, now Gandhi Primary School.
He attended secondary school at Luanshya Boys where he completed Form Five (Grade 12) before proceeding for a compulsory Zambia National Service (ZNS) training at Mushili Commando camp in Ndola.
Manu is from a family of seven siblings that includes five boys and two girls, while his father RN Chauhan who came to the then Northern Rhodesia in 1942 and  passed on in 2001, was also an enthusiastic Yoga specialist and musician who performed before Dr Kaunda shortly after Independence at Luanshya Hindu Hall in 1964.
Manu’s grandfather, who came in Zambia much earlier, died in 1968, followed by his (Manu’s) mother in 1987.
After his ZNS training, Manu worked as a motor mechanic for eight years in Luanshya before joining a motor spares shop and later a bakery.
Manu was invited by the Indian High Commission to sing before Dr Kaunda in Lusaka.
“I was invited by the Indian High Commissioner a year ago, to perform before Dr Kaunda at a function where he was guest of honour,” Manu, now 56 years old says.
Manu recalls that after he sang the song on KK which was recorded more than 20 years ago, the former president gave him a big hug and commended him for his contribution to Zambian music.
“When he said, you have done well for the nation and for supporting me over the years with your wonderful song, I replied, yes, sir! I could not help it but cry because the man I adore and love for his humanistic principles had thanked me,” Manu said.
Manu is still working out in the studios where he is perfecting a new version of the Only KK song which he is now called KK, the Father of the Nation.
“I have always believed in KK and his humanistic ideology, he fought for our independence and made Zambia free,” Manu says.
He says the KK song will be remembered for many years to come and is proud of being a Zambian and his contribution to the Zambian music industry.
“I also wish long life to KK, long life to Michael Chilufya Sata, long live Zambia and long live humanism,” he says.
Manu was also awarded the prestigious Mukuba Award for Art Excellency and Art Achievement in his contribution to Zambian music.
He also adores the late Catholic Priest Father Miha Dravensek  who gave him a lot of advice and encouragement when he was recording his AIDS song.
Father Miha said to me “Son, don’t give up music, it runs in your blood, you have got a heart for Zambia and its people”.
Manu thinks the current music by the youngsters is fantastic and excellent, only needs encouragement from all quarters including promoters.
The cabaret star is now a business executive in Luanshya and will keep on tracking because music is his life blood.
Comments: benjphiri990@gmail.com; 0971 933809; www.times.co.zm