From Idea to Platform: The Story of Zedwap in Zambia’s Music Industry
In Zambia, more people are now using the internet to discover music and entertainment. As this shift continues, local digital platforms are becoming important in helping artists reach audiences.
One of these platforms is Zedwap.com, a music and entertainment website founded by Austin Mweemba.
How the idea started
The idea of Zedwap began in March 2015. At the time, Austin Mweemba wanted to create a platform focused on music and entertainment. He first thought of the name “wap,” which was related to early mobile internet. Later, he added “Zed,” a common name for Zambia, and formed
the name “Zedwap.”
Although the idea was created in 2015, he did not start the platform immediately because he did not have enough money or resources.
Education and preparation
Between 2015 and 2017, Mweemba studied Computer Science at Kumbi International College.
During this time, he gained skills that helped him understand how to build and manage websites.
After finishing his studies in September 2017, he decided to start working on Zedwap.
Launch of Zedwap Music
Zedwap.com was officially launched in 2017 as a music and entertainment blog.
The platform started by sharing music, news, and updates about artists in Zambia.
In its early stages, the website slowly began to attract users who were interested in local music and entertainment content.
Challenges and setbacks
Between 2017 and 2019, Zedwap faced a major problem when the website lost a large amount of its content.
This happened due to hosting issues, which caused songs and articles to be
deleted.
This was a difficult moment for the platform, but instead of giving up, Mweemba decided to rebuild the website.
He moved the platform to more reliable international hosting services to
avoid similar problems in the future.
Growth and support
Between 2017 and 2019, Zedwap was primarily managed by Austin Mweemba during its early development phase. From 2019 onwards, the platform continued to evolve with contributions from Vanessa Longwani, who is recognized as a co-founder of Zedwap.
Between 2020 and 2021, Zedwap underwent further development as it recovered from earlier technical challenges and expanded its content output. Following this period, from 2022 onwards, the platform continued to grow under Mweemba’s leadership, increasing its presence within Zambia’s digital media and music landscape.
Expansion and development
From 2022 onwards, the platform expanded its content to include more entertainment news,music trends, and artist coverage. It also introduced features such as improved streaming and
downloadable content.
As internet usage increased in Zambia, Zedwap attracted more users interested in music and entertainment.
Role in the music industry
Zedwap has become part of Zambia’s digital music space by helping to promote artists and share music content. The platform also helps users discover new songs and follow trends in the
industry.
It reflects how people are now using online platforms instead of traditional media like radio to find music.
Current status
As of 2026, Zedwap is still active and based in Lusaka. The platform remains owned and managed by Austin Mweemba
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