Katongo

Katongo Tembo was born in Mufulira, Zambia, to Bemba parents, Fredah and Nelson Temba. Aged 11 Katongo and her family moved to Hertfordshire, England.[http://bulletin.kabilibranding.com/lifestyle/arts/14-katongo-heading-for-the-top-in-uk-music] {{Dead link|date=February 2020|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}} In England she attended Primary School and then went on to attend John Henry Newman Catholic Secondary School in Stevenage. She was a Catholic in Mufulira, Zambia following her parents. She liked participating in dancing at church at small age.

Katongo later obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in International Politics at Brunel University.

In 2012, Katongo released her debut EP 'My Way' in 2012.{{cite web|url=http://www.theafronews.eu/black-community/community/1594-20-successful-zambian-women-in-uk-katongo-temba.html|title=20 Successful Zambian Women in UK - Katongo Temba|website=Theafronews.eu}} The EP was released on iTunes and from it she released her first single 'Tonight'.{{cite web|url=http://lusakavoice.com/2015/06/19/zambian-born-british-bred-singerkatongo-temba-releases-baba/|title=ZAMBIAN-born& British-bred singer, Katongo Temba releases 'Baba'|website=Lusakavoice.com|date=19 June 2015 }} This was accompanied by a music video which was played on Channel O, ZNBC TV, Muvi TV and Vox Africa TV. The single peaked at number 17 on German music chart Oljo. The single also received considerable radio play on radio stations in the UK, Africa and North America.

In 2013, Katongo took part in Simon Cowell's, You Generation online Talent search. Katongo's audition, titled Kat's audition on YouTube, was broadcast across the world and went viral within a few days. Katongo is signed as a songwriter to Music Publishing company SPEEGRA UK.{{cite web|url=http://www.speegra.com/|title=Speegra, Music Publishers, Record Label|work=Speegra.com}} In 2014, Katongo released her first Zambian vernacular single "Joy". This features J.K. The single peaked at number 7 on Beat99FM Nigeria and has received airplay across the African continent in nightclubs and on radio and television.{{cite web|url=https://www.daily-mail.co.zm/?p=33663|title=Katongo Temba releases 'Baba' - Zambia Daily Mail|work=Zambia Daily Mail}}

In December 2014, Katongo was announced as a winner of the Songwriting Contest UK. Her song "Make A Change" was described by judges as "an infectious and catchy reggae song with a positive message".{{cite web|url=http://www.songwritingcontest.co.uk/2014-results.html|title=2014 Results|website=Songwritingcontest.co.uk|access-date=22 June 2015|archive-date=29 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170929003634/http://www.songwritingcontest.co.uk/2014-results.html|url-status=dead}}

Katongo has also been featured in several magazines and newspapers.{{cite web|url=https://www.daily-mail.co.zm/?p=19397|title=I am back to my roots - Katongo Tembo - Zambia Daily Mail|work=Zambia Daily Mail}} In 2015 she featured on the cover of the Bulletin and Record Magazine May Issue.{{cite web|url=http://bulletin.kabilibranding.com/|title=Bulletin and Record|author=|website=Bulletin.kabilibranding.com}}

Katongo has performed across the UK and has collaborated with various artists including popular artists from Zambia including J.K, Cactus Agony, Slapdee, BM Cleo Ice Queen and producer Shom-C.{{cite web|url=http://www.lusakatimes.com/2014/08/05/katongo-releases-new-single-features-jk/|title=Zambia : Katongo releases new single that features JK|website=LusakaTimes.com|date=5 August 2014 }}

Katongo released her new single "Baba" on June 15, 2015.

Katongo wrote "I am Back Again" in 2015.{{cite web|url=http://www.daily-mail.co.zm/back-roots-katongo-tembo/|title=I am back to my roots – Katongo Tembo|date=6 February 2018|website=Daily-mail.co.zm|accessdate=30 July 2020}} Katongo released her new single "All Over Me". This song enjoyed radio airplay in the UK

(Kiss FM, Rinse FM, Reprezent Radio), Australia, US and across over 140 radio stations worldwide. In addition to her solo project, Katongo collaborated with the reggae artist, Cactus Agony, on a song

called "Kiss of Life". "Kiss Of Life" peaked at Number 7 on the MTV Base music video charts.{{Cite web|url=https://zambianplay.com/katongo-temba-biography/|title=Katongo Temba | Biography|website=Zambianplay.com|date=8 July 2018|accessdate=30 July 2020}}

Alongside her music, Katongo enjoys doing charity work and has been aligned with the charity ‘Africans Unite Against Child Abuse’ (AFRUCA). Recognised as a supporter of the charity, Katongo alongside other speakers, has spoken at the House of Commons on two occasions.{{Cite web|url=https://www.lusakatimes.com/2017/06/09/zambian-born-uk-based-singersongwriter-katongo-releases-new-music-video/|title=Zambia : Zambian born UK based Singer/Songwriter, Katongo releases new music video|website=Lusakatimes.com|date=9 June 2017|accessdate=30 July 2020}}

Furthermore, Katongo is also an international model and has appeared in music videos and adverts, as well as beauty and entertainment magazines (Cocogal UK, Poize Magazine Nigeria,

Promota Magazine and EZM).

In 2018, Katongo released a new single called "Tinofara" featuring Slap Dee. This is the first release from her upcoming debut album. "Tinofara" was playlisted on different radio stations in Zambia, Nigeria, Ghana and the United Kingdom. "Tinofara" was selected by the BBC for the BBC Introducing platform and Katongo was invited for an interview and to showcase the song on BBC Radio.{{Cite web|url=https://zambianews365.com/katongos-tinofara-gets-bbc-airplay/|title=Katongo's Tinofara gets BBC airplay|first=Kudzai|last=Tsivo|website=Zambianews365.com|date=27 August 2018|accessdate=30 July 2020}}{{Dead link|date=April 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} In 2019. Katongo released a new single called once in a life time, the song speaks of a feeling a love like never before. the song describes being in love so strong that one feels this love will never happen again ;its once in a lifetime love

Katongo started modelling in 2010 when she participated in and won a title at the 'Miss African Spirit' Beauty pageant UK.{{cite web|url=http://www.africa-news.eu/africans-in-uk/789-nonhlanhla-togwe-crowned-miss-african-spirit-2010-.html|title=Nonhlanhla Togwe crowned Miss African Spirit 2010|author=|website=Africa-news.eu|access-date=2015-06-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101208182243/http://africa-news.eu/africans-in-uk/789-nonhlanhla-togwe-crowned-miss-african-spirit-2010-.html|archive-date=2010-12-08|url-status=dead}} She went on to feature in music videos and magazines and TV adverts. In 2014, Katongo signed a modelling contract with Black Afro Queens Agency in the UK.{{cite web|url=http://www.blackafroqueens.com/|title=Home|website=BlackAfroQueens.com}}

{{Reflist}}

• [http://www.KatongoMusic.com Official website]

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Category:British women pop singers

Category:British women songwriters

Category:British female models

Category:Year of birth missing (living people)

Category:Living people

Category:Zambian emigrants to the United Kingdom

Category:21st-century Zambian women singers

Category:Zambian models