The Dream Of Nankoko Gospel Band Suffers Setback After Being Left Out Of Musicians Empowerment Fund

Twice rejected by musician empowerment and society.The dream of Nankoko Gospel Band to open a studio and empower fellow disabled artists with recording space suffered a setback when they were not included on the list of musicians empowered by the government.

The setback for Ignitius Mulenga, 34 is just a culimination of his life-long struggles to make it in life and gain acceptance among people.

Born in Mufulira, Mulenga struggled with his education due to lack facilities to cater for the physically challenged.He recalls how getting on a bus to attend school in Lusaka was a nightmare after he had left the comfort of Kasama’s Chileshe Chepela School for Handcapped.

The struggle so him leave Arakan Secondary School to Kabulonga Boys Secondary School which had better amenities for the disabled.

Post secondary school, Mulenga’s academic journey so him land a place at Evelyn Hone College of Applied Arts and Commerce where he studied Human Resource Management.”Life was difficult, because I was financially disabled too, even concentration was minimal due to my condition.”

Asked on how he felt about his failed application for empower, Mulenga said the rejection was hurtful because it had killed his dream of providing a platform for disabled artists, he quips; “suffering of people with disabilities continues, we want the authority to review the criteria for awarding of the empowerment”