Mponda Kalunga is not just a professional boxer in the ring but also a talented singer/song writer, born in Egypt, Alexandria. Due to his father’s job as a working musician, Mponda and his family constantly moved around. He recalls as a young boy moving from Egypt to the Congo, Ethiopia, to Tanzania. Arriving in Tanzania during a period where there was a lot of political uncertainty forced Mponda and his family to go through a life changing and character building experience. In 1991, Mponda and his family were placed in a Tanzanian refugee camp; there he stayed for seven years. The experience in the refugee camp gave Mponda a new profound understanding and appreciation for Life.
Mponda talking about his younger days says, “I started hunting at the age of eight just so my family and I could eat”. After numerous attempts Mponda’s father got in contact with the Red Cross it was then his family was rescued and brought to St-Johns, Newfoundland. Arriving in a new place and not speaking English, Mponda found himself getting into fights and getting kicked out of schools. While hanging out downtown one night, Mponda walked pass a boxing gym and at the age of 16, he began his boxing career. This path led Mponda to countless medals including a silver medal in the 2007 Canada Winter Games, winning the only silver medal for the entire province. Mponda didn’t stop there; he used his passion for fighting and put it to paper and pen. Mponda was the 2012 Toronto finalist in the great Canadian song search competition and the 2016 regional finalist for north Canada in CBC’s searchlight competition.
There is no limit for Mponda; he plans on continuing to evolve while promoting “unity, love and courage”. He considers his style of music as “Soul Juice”. He also intends on bridging the gap and mixing Swahili into his music to create a new sound. When asked about what keeps him motivated, he say’s “the love and passion I have for music!”
