I first heard about this socialite called Mwizukanji a few years ago when her story with celebrated music super star Yo Maps broke out. As a business executive, I didn’t pay much attention to social media trends and I can admit that I didn’t know a lot about Mwizukanji as I knew about Yo Maps through his music. At that time, the two were going separate ways and there was so much talk about who betrayed who.
I chose not to take sides because, first of all, I love Yo Maps’ music, and I think he is an inspiration for the young generation. Sometimes I pretend during meetings with my fellow executives that I listen to a lot of audio books in my office, when in fact, the JBL speaker in the corner is for playing Yo Boy! The second reason why I didn’t take sides was because I felt sorry for beautiful Mwizu, whom in my view was judged harshly based on her past. In my journey through life, I have learnt that the woman always loses the debate when placed in Mwizu’s circumstances. Apart from that, Maps had a musical weapon to win fans in his favour, Mwizu only had her looks and her name.
While enjoying hits from the Olio’s Records, I found myself taking interest to also follow Mwizukanji’s page. I couldn’t believe how famous she is on social media platforms. Approximately 1,160,000 followers on Facebook alone. Within the few minutes that I was analyzing the pages that she follows, I saw five new likes on her page. Impressive, I thought. But why do people love Mwizukanji this much? I got the answer from each and every picture and captions she posts on her page. I think Bukata’s mother is a genius and a very aggrieve entrepreneur.
How she recruits: Unlike many socialites who do nothing for free; Mwizukanji advertises a lot of businesses for free. When she visits a nice place; be it hotel or pleasure resort, she posts pictures of the place and says a number of nice things about it. She doesn’t charge for it, and I know this for a fact because Mwizu has promoted three of my different businesses on her platforms without asking for any payment – she doesn’t even know me. I have to be a terrible human being not to reciprocate this gesture by following her page and telling all my close friends about her.
Staying down to Earth: This is actually what got me attracted and inspired to write about her. Very attractive, yet simple. I have never met Mwizukanji, save for one day when I was driving to the office and I saw her on the Highway escorting kids who were doing some fundraising walk. Even though I saw her only for a few seconds at the pace of the moving traffic, I felt she is just as beautiful in person as she appears on photographs. Her mouth and eyes are distinct tourist attractions which traps you into affection when you see her. I can actually write another page about her smiling lips – guys know what I am talking about. But my point is that this beauty is different from others. Mwizu is not a diva, if diva means always wearing makeup, donning expensive clothes and posting about classy foods or drinks beyond one’s affordability. She is actually the opposite. I can swear that I have seen Mwizukanji wearing a wrinkled blouse, taking off her wig when eating nshima and doing all those things that ‘hustlers’ or non-celebrities do. While she can express herself very well in English, she prefers to use Zamnglish on her page – the kind of English which is spoken in vernacular – and that really tickles her followers, me inclusive.
I guess it’s that simplicity that makes many people relate with Mwizukanji. When she opened Meatopia Restaurant in Lusaka, fans and corporate executives flocked to her joint to taste her food, with an unconfessed agenda of wanting to meet her there. I too would like to share a table with Mwizukanji one day, not only for her food, but to discuss business opportunities. Who knows what else… I think this is what keeps her brand growing and glowing.
Mwizu may not have a business master’s degree, but she is smarter than many of us business executive who work for big multinationals. Her brand marketing strategy never fails. She has created her own unique way of promoting businesses for her fans, while promoting her own business in the process. She may have lost a husband in Yo Maps, but all things happen for good, as she has surely gained undisputed fame, which she has exceptionally used to become an outstanding, award winning entrepreneur, deserving honour and respect.
That’s all for today.