Alubusu

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Alubusu (c. 1975 – 2 November 2012), born Albert Silwimba, was a Zambian reggae/dancehall artist whose 2004 album "The Big Drum" and the hit single Bwela Panyumba made him one of the defining voices of urban Zambian music in the 2000s. He was widely known by the sobriquet “The Big Drum.”

Music career

Alubusu released singles in the early 2000s and broke through with the studio album The Big Drum (2004), which circulated widely on radio and street CDs. The record’s track list—archived on streaming platforms—includes “Iya Ohh,” “Mwanipwanila Mutima,” “Kankalidwe,” “Aba Fyashi,” “Dona,” “Kamutelela,” “Valako Door,” “Yabeba,” “Sweet Darling,” and “Bwela Pa Nyumba,” with collaborations featuring Don, Lucy, and Joseph Nkhoma. His catalogue also includes later singles circulated on Zambian and regional platforms (e.g., “We Chalo,” “Umwaka Tawapwe,” “Lesa Tata”).

Alubusu’s songs combined reggae/dancehall rhythms with everyday Zambian storytelling, spotlighting relationships, community life and social advice. “Bwela Pa Nyumba” became a staple on local stations and compilation mixtapes.

Style and influences

Peers have cited Buju Banton as a key influence on Alubusu’s vocal delivery and stage presence. In interviews and tributes he was linked to the first wave of post-millennial Zed dancehall that followed pioneers like Daddy Zemus, helping to normalize dancehall patois within local pop idioms.

Death

Alubusu died in a road traffic accident on the Mongu–Kalabo (Kaoma–Mongu) road in Western Province on the night of 2 November 2012, aged 37. Police and local media reported the crash occurred in the Miulwe area, about 35km from Mongu, and that he died at the scene. His body was taken to Lewanika General Hospital before transferred to Lusaka for burial.

Posthumous reception

Fans and artists across Zambia posted tributes, with many highlighting his role in popularising Zambian dancehall and the enduring appeal of The Big Drum. Media retrospectives and social posts continue to mark the anniversary of his passing each November.

Selected discography

Albums

• The Big Drum (2004) — includes “Bwela Pa Nyumba,” “Sweet Darling,” “Yabeba,” “Valako Door.”

Notable tracks / collaborations

• “Bwela Pa Nyumba” (ft. Don & Lucy).
• “Sweet Darling” (ft. Don).
• “Valako Door”; “Yabeba”; “Aba Fyashi”; “Kamutelela.”

See also

• Zambian music
• Daddy Zemus
• Joe Chibangu