Leonard Koloko

Leonard Koloko
Leonard Koloko (right) receiving an award.
Born	Zambia
Occupation	Writer visual artist graphic designer freelance journalist
Notable work	Zambian Music Legends

Leonard Koloko is a Zambian creative writer, visual artist, graphic designer and freelance journalist who writes on entertainment and sport for various Zambian newspapers, magazines, anthologies and the Internet. Since his secondary school days he has contributed numerous editorial letters, children’s stories, poems and feature articles.

Early life and education

He attended his primary education from 1971 to 1976 at Luanshya Dominican Convent Primary School where he was also part of the school football team as a goalkeeper. He graduated to secondary school and went to Luanshya Boys Secondary School from 1978 to 1982. From 1984 to 1986 he attained an Art Teachers Diploma from Evelyn Hone College of Applied Arts and Commerce.

Career

He first served as a high school teacher in the Ministry of Education and in January 2000 joined Zambia Consolidated Copper Mines as a Graphics Artist.

In 2013, Koloko joined Now-Again Records, an American record company speciallising in funk and psychedelic music, where he helps with research on Zambian music and authoring liner notes for the company's CD products.

Publications

• Pinto and the Magic Flute (Zambia Educational Publishing House, Lusaka, Zambia 1994)
• Zambian Music Legends (Lulu.com 20 July 2012, ISBN 9781470953355)
• Cry from the Heart (Lulu.com 15 August 2012, ISBN 9781471690273)
• Whispers in the Closet (26 June 2013, ISBN 9781782996149)

Awards

Koloko has won a number of awards and nominations in theatre including a special Mukuba Arts Trust Achievement of Art Excellence Recognition Award in 2008 for his contribution towards the arts. In 2009 he won a First Prize Journalism Award in ‘Health in the Headlines’ competition during the Rhythm of Life Arts and health Festival.