How Billy Kaunda knocked out Bakili Muluzi

Apr 12, 2016 Entertainment 216
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Billy Kaunda

In his first three albums, Mwapindulanji (1997), Alibe Mawu (1999) and Muyime Kaye (2000),  Malawi musician Billy Kaunda was a musician who completely had nothing to do with politics. He was a soft spoken young man who simply went into the studio and came from it tackling sticky social issues. But going into his fourth album, Dandaulo Limveke (2001), he started sounding political.

Billy Kaunda
Billy Kaunda

In one of the songs he called on politicians to stop politicizing everything because people do not feed on politics. He criticized them for being childish and not people oriented in their political activities. This was unlike him. But he was just starting. A year later he came with another album which was full of political songs, a project many people related with.

In 2001 the ruling United Democratic Front (UDF) party was at the height of its wrong politics. President Muluzi was secretly gunning for a third term in office and everything in Malawi got complicated. This was the same Muluzi who eight years earlier came as the right man to lead Malawi as a democrat. But power had trapped him and he wanted to stay on. To make sure this was possible he went to all available lengths, even using violence, to force people and fellow politicians to support this move.

It did not go out well with Billy Kaunda. The once quiet musician was forced into the scene and had songs which were directly aimed at President Muluzi and his political machinery. He did it in the following tracks: First, Mundiuze, a song in which he criticized the ruling elite for abandoning the rule of law and doing everything to their pleasure. He also called out against the practice of letting people with petty crimes go to prison while shielding the real criminals because they are politically connected.

During that time, the UDF party used to have a youth wing called the Young Democrats which went about hitting on political opponents of the president. This was what Billy was singing against. Knowing that such a song would probably result in him being attacked or killed, he had to say it before the political authorities had his fate discussed and sealed; Do not scare me with your weapons, first tell me the wrong I did, he sung.

In the second song, Mtundu Wanga, Billy no longer thought he will survive the confrontation with the politicians. He looked at himself as a walking dead man. He was singing from his grave, asking his fellow countrymen why they had to kill him as if there was no other punishment for him. He raised several questions, from the grave. Was I the first one to be wrong, that you killed me like a Snake, before I appeared in the court of law to defend myself? Then the dead Billy continued to tell the countrymen that the reason he did not run away when he was being sought after was because he knew they would amicably discuss the matter. He trusted them with his life even though they were not in good terms. But in the end they had him tied, dragged through the streets, beating him until he later died.

If in the other tracks Billy was not clear enough on who he was singing against, in Sitidya Lero he was direct about it. He was singing against President Muluzi and called him Boss. In 2001 – 2002 there was an acute food shortage across the country, as usual. But instead of solving the problem as quickly as possible, like how they rebuilt Television Malawi after it had caught fire, politicians used the situation to cash in on the hungry people.

Maize, the staple crop, went missing on the market because it was being exported to other countries while people in the country were dying. Due to its scarcity, its price went up and most people could not afford it. It was a sad situation. Billy grabbed the bull by its horns, and he posed some tough questions to the authorities: If really you say you want to end our poverty, with these policies, exactly whose poverty are you trying to end?

He was indirectly telling them that they were running the government to their own advantage and they did not have the people’s welfare in their plans. The elites were after everyone who opposed them to the point of grabbing their businesses, consequently causing unemployment which resulted in high crime rates. Malawi had gone wrong.

Bakili Muluzi
Bakili Muluzi

He then moved the focus from his fate and mourned those that had already gone through political deaths in Ophedwa. He called on them, from their graves, that they had given it a good fight. He was proud of their dedication. But he quickly reminded them that often it is those who choose not to get involved in political fights that get to enjoy the fruits.

As a believer he reminded them about the death of Jesus Christ, the son of God, that if the Father had not wanted him dead it could not have happened. He allowed the son to die for a reason. He extended this to them as well. Their death was for a reason despite them leaving behind their children and families suffering.

He finished by assuring the dead that one day the killers will meet their own deaths as well. Billy looked at the big picture and saw mortals killing each other. That gave him the authority to tell the departed fighters to take heart. Their killers will not live forever.

It may be that Billy was indeed talking to the departed souls. But looking at the context he too had placed himself into the land of the dead. He assumed his existence in both the world of the dead and the living; a living man talking to his own dead soul. He had transcended life and his mind had already made peace with his own dead state.

But the song that got on the way of President Muluzi to the point that he talked about it in one of his political rallies was the album’s title track, Mwataya Chipangano (Agalatiya). Mr. President, you have not kept your promise. That was Billy’s simple message to the boss. President Muluzi was attempting to overstay his political welcome, selling himself as the only person able to run this country.

This prompted Billy to ask one of the most difficult questions President Muluzi had to answer during his presidency: Are you sure you are the only one, in this whole country, wise and intelligent enough to lead this country? After looking at how President Muluzi had ruined the economy, politics and society, people got to wonder where he was getting the audacity to ask for another term in office.

Billy took the swipe on the boss from the word go. He literally made sure every word in the song carried his emotions and what he exactly meant. He first asked the president why after giving the nation democratic freedom, he was demanding it back. Then he went on to attack President Muluzi’s famous claim that his government was not cruel like that of Kamuzu Banda.

But then a few months before the song one of the country’s prominent reggae musicians, Evison Matafale, had died while in police custody after he had written a letter that criticized the president. Billy further attacked the corruption in the system and bluntly told the rulers that had God been a police officer they all could have been languishing in prison.

He cautioned the president that things do turn around in the world. As he is inflicting pain on others, one day, it will be him facing it and the pill will be bitter than the one he is administering to others. After such courageous words he finished it all with a daring challenge on the chorus: Let anything befall me, and I am ready to follow Matafale. Your time is up. Why are you trying to stay around and pretend that you want to further develop this country? It is not development that you want. All you want is money.

Then, Billy had literally signed his own death warrant. The notorious Young Democrats were not a group to start a war with. They had the license to kill and their bosses were ready to protect their actions. Billy knew exactly what he was getting himself into. But the once quiet musician had enough of it and was ready to face the political forces head on. Looking from his other songs he knew it that death was minutes away and was even strong enough to sing his own tribute.

Luckily, he survived the moment. He went on to release other successful albums later in his career. But this album should be rated as one that stood for a moment. He spoke for the people. In the future, when we will take stock of our democracy, as we rush to shower praises to politicians and activists, we should not forget about this man and his album. It is one of the important parts of our democracy. It raised the conscious of the nation and led to the downfall of one of Malawi’s strongest men, President Muluzi.

*Wonderful Mkhutche is a speech writer, a political scientist and a manuscript developer and editor

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216 Comments

  1. Wonderful. ….thanks for this article….Indeed if there are those events aimed at people who fought for our uprightness of democracy then Billy Kaunda must not be sidelined.
    He played a very big role that not even a handful could sacrifice themselves for…
    But thank God he is still arrive today.
    Many thanks Wonderful for remembering this true son of malawi.

  5. Tiyen Tikamapanga Coment tiziyamba Talingarira,apa Sipamalo Ponyozelana Kodi Anthu Amenewa Salipo Ndi Moyo Muuzen Bily Aimbeso Ina Nyimbo Mavuto Ali Panowa ,amuone Zache Sodier Satekeseka Ndi Zazii

  8. amwene wonyoza muluzi izo ndi zake coz ine makolo anga sanakakwanisa kutilipilira xul f but babawa kubwela kwawo pampando eeee!!!! Anasintha zinthu za mbiri mpaka prmary kukhala ya ulele ife tinapezeka taphunzila so i proud to him every day

  9. amwene wonyoza muluzi izo ndi zake coz ine makolo anga sanakakwanisa kutilipilira xul f but babawa kubwela kwawo pampando eeee!!!! Anasintha zinthu za mbiri mpaka prmary kukhala ya ulele ife tinapezeka taphunzila so i proud to him every day

  10. Tembenukani mtima abale anga nthawi ino siyomagolozana chala ayi kapena kumangokhalira kutukwanana tonse ndife a Malawi.

  11. Tembenukani mtima abale anga nthawi ino siyomagolozana chala ayi kapena kumangokhalira kutukwanana tonse ndife a Malawi.

  15. MY FELLOW MALAWIANS, LETS APPRECIATE BILLY KAUNDA, A YOUNG REVOLUTIONARY, FOR THE GREAT JOB HE DID TO MALAWI NATION. THROUGH HIM, SOME POLITICAL ERRORS WERE ENDED.

  16. Ufulu olankhula nayenso Billy musaiawale kuti ndi gay amunake mukuwadziwa

  21. Aaa amalawi bwanji tipeze njila zogonjetsela umphawi osati kumabwerela za mbuyo. Nanga titukula chani ndi zimenezi?

  35. Ukawona nkhani yalembedwayo siinakusangalatse umangosiya kupeleka coment kusiyana ndizime mkupanga apazi.Admn walakwisa chani apa?Billy did a lot to change the political scene from where it was heading.They even banned Agalatiya song from being played in public places.Muluzi anachita kupangisa msonkhano kutukwana Billy kuti enanu mwakhuta kachasu uko nkuyamba kuti Agalatiya ndingakhale Agalatiya ine?ndinapangana ndi Billy ine?Mziyimba ngati Phungu Joseph Nkasa sopano ndikumpasa galimoto uyu Phungu komaso kumunamizaso.

  38. media ya ntundu wanji imeneyi yomakamba thano pa mavuto mmalo mmalo mokamba za mavuto ali pano kuti tithana nawo ife anthu azitipatsa current event osati ndale za kale ndizopanda ntchito

  39. media ya ntundu wanji imeneyi yomakamba thano pa mavuto mmalo mmalo mokamba za mavuto ali pano kuti tithana nawo ife anthu azitipatsa current event osati ndale za kale ndizopanda ntchito

  40. media ya ntundu wanji imeneyi yomakamba thano pa mavuto mmalo mmalo mokamba za mavuto ali pano kuti tithana nawo ife anthu azitipatsa current event osati ndale za kale ndizopanda ntchito

  41. Some people don’t read the whole story. They just read the heading and start spitting their opinions in the comment box. They be like ”mukufuna kudanitsa” hahahah kudanitsa kuli pati when this article says exactly what happened!!! Wake up people,izi zinaliko tonse timadziwona,kudzikumbutsa sikudanitsa…zingayambe kuiwalika. The purpose of this page is reviewing,informing,educating,entertaining…etc. Paja enanu nyimbo mmangoijama otsapanga analyse uthenga wake…

  48. munthu wabwino mtima ngat ameneyu watani kut mudzimutukwana? alipo yemwe angafanane naye paonse oyimba? musatengerepo mway pakut amnzanu alankhu nde inuxo mulankhulepo muvulala znthu zaeni guyez ndthu.

  50. Ineyo monga mbadwa ya Malawi, ndidzafikila kumwalila koma muluzi , ngakhale mzimu wanga uzamudandaula kamba kosowa chikondi ndikusaukisa dziko lamalawi pankhani zachuma. Koma kwamunthu yemwe wabadwa zakaza ma 90’s ndikukhulupila kuti mpovuta kuzindikila izi. Ngakhale baibulo limati khululukilani olakwa, chabwino, koma nanga matafale adafelanji? Chuma chamalawi chinasokonekelapati? Ngati anali ntsogoleli wabwino bwanji adanyoza Billy Kaunda pansonkhano kuti mwana wankulu mutu poti sanapangane ndi a make? Akuyenela ayankhe Kaye izi , kenako dziko lione kuti likhululuka bwanji.

    1. zimenezo ndizimene anapanga BM nanga Bingu titsaiwale imfa ya robet chasowa kusowa mafuta ma dollars etc kodi sizinapezeke ku nyumba yake

    2. idiot ………nthawi ya kamuzu anthu adazunzika…..kuphedwa osalakwa chuma chikuyenda bwino pamenepo uti chani? Nanga anthu omwe adamwalira pa 20 july 2011 munthawi ya bingu?

  74. Zawo zimenezo ife kwathu ndikudandaula za kwacha yathuyi,, nthawi yogula fodya amayikweza ndicholinga chofuna kuwabera alimi

  75. Zawo zimenezo ife kwathu ndikudandaula za kwacha yathuyi,, nthawi yogula fodya amayikweza ndicholinga chofuna kuwabera alimi

  81. fuck Billy wth his song Agalatiya..lero muziti Billy kaunda anali Galu poyimba nyimbo imeneyija chifukwa zikuonekerathu poyera Bakili muluzi Ana wadzelu yekha taonani dziko lamalawi lilipano ndiwulamulilo Wa muthalika ndi brother wake ndinthawi yamuluzi olo mutati muyifunse nkhuku ikuwuzani kuti utsogoleri Wa Bakili anthu amasangalala kusonyeza kuti nyimbo ya Billy kaunda inali yausilu taonani lero anzelu enawo alikuti?

  82. Someone somewhere is singing billy today like him singing others yesterday….mw24, your story is unfinished and dpp partaking!

    1. Olo pa zodiak sikuti akanena ‘zikachitika mumvera kwa ife’ ndekuti azingokhalira ma current affairs basi. Pamakhalanso ‘zingayambe kuiwalika, report ya mtsabatai pomwe amanena ndemanga za zinthu zina ndi zina….

    1. Kodi alakwitsa kulemba izizi? Mwaiwerenga koma nkhani yonseyo;mwina mwangoona heading? You’re Living with shallow mind for fear of kubweretsa chidani…

  109. So u mean things are better now? U cowards,,, moron and stupid admin, go and tell ur stupid Billy come and sing again if he is realy afighter and democratic

  111. How can I explain this testimony to the public about a great man who help me out in serious illness I have HIV AID for good 3year and I was almost going to the end of my life due to the way my skin look like all I have in my mind is let me just give up because life is not interesting to me any longer but I just pray for God every day to accept my soul when ever I’m gone lucky to me my kids brother run to me that he found a doctor in the internet who can cure HIV online he help me out on everything, the doctor ask for my details, so he can prepare the herbal medicine for me from his temple after all he ask is done one week later I started getting more stronger my blood start flow normally for 4 to 5 days I start getting Wight before 6 days my body start developing my skin start coming up after 8 days which he told me that i will be completely healed, I went for HIV test and I was tested negative I’m so happy that I can say I’m not a HIV patient if you have HIV/AID or any sickness he can still help you in getting your ex-back to you please contact him via his email: [email protected], or whatsapp him on +2348143143878.

  115. Am sure all you seek is to sell ur expertise in writing. I APPLAUD U. but I hv been searching from start the relavance of ur speech Mr speech writer but It’s not adding up. maybe I missed t within the lines. it appears dry &blank to draw connections

  117. This is not a bravely act by Billy Kaunda, but he put himself in a dangerous zone. punching muluzi this is unbelievable and where was his bodyguard

  125. News24 yaremba zomwe zimachitikadi,paja amalawi sitichedwa kuyiwara nchifukwa chake,kwina kuti konse,ambiri omwe amamenyera ufuru samadya bwino,ena amamwarira, lucky dube sung alot of political songs,freedom songs,pano anamwarira, anthu kt ayirembe history yake,amalawi ena azasutsanso, vuto ndirakt nyimbo ikaturusidwa mmakayinvera kubala mtaredzera,mtengapo chani?? Anayimba configuration chindigwere,ife sitidwa ndare koma timadya nsima, ooh OK mwina mli Ana, koma mkundidabwisatu kt kodi Ana anuwo mzawapasa history yanji? Mkungosusa chinachirichonse,wake up amalawi!! Ndizomwezo anthu azichokadi kunja kuzatiramurira kwathu kuno eti chifukwa anakhalapo ku America, ku China,ASA chamba eti,,kamuzu anachoka kunja watiramula, ma brothers anuwa anachita kuchoka kunja atilamla,lero achakwera achita kuchoka kunja atilamlanso,kkkkkkkkkkk fokofu

    2. For what? If it’s about my comment then u must be stupid too, use your head and walk tall bro, if u’ve gt akind of short sight then that problem of yours will persist, some of you,mkumangonena poti Billy ndiwakumpoto, ndizimenzo sopano,

  126. kkkk iye ankanena Muluzi nanga iye zandale zamuthera bwanji anzake ena ankanthandiza Bakiliwo omwe mmaganizo mwakemo ankati ndi oyipawo mpaka lero akulamulirabe madera akwawo

  129. Amalawi why o those insults. This z true kodi zoimbazi mwayamba kutsatila liti? Kodi nyimbo ya agalatiya mwataya chipangano simunaimvele? Zoti chair pa sonkhano adamunena Billy kuti wataya chipangano cha amako simukuziwa?

  132. Things are even worse, I wonder why he keep quit, remind u idiotic musicians, God is not a fool, you we’re jealousies muluzi on that time n what do have now

  133. Akutumani mwasowa xolemba osalemba zomwe xikuchitikaxi bwanji bwampini azanu akuthamanga thamanga munthu amene ukumuchemeleleyo ndi obwela kwao ndiku zambia musatinyase

  138. mw24 ndiya bodza …nthawi xonse nkhani zawo amangofuna kudanisa amalawi….muzafa imfa yowawa,,, bwanji ma page ena sakutiuza za izi? kuli #zodiack kuli #mwVOICE tiri ndi ma page ambiri bwanji sakunena ? shame

    5. @Fanny ndawenso wakomenta nkumati watsutsa nawo?? Kkk ‘bwanji mapage enawo sanalembe wati?’ ukusekesatu…iyinso ndi breaking news? Paja uli standard chani? 😀

    8. hahahah for u to call me a satanic,u must be a satanic too! Like seriously,how do u know i’m a satanic?

    9. hahahah for u to call me a satanic,u must be a satanic too! Like seriously,how do u know i’m a satanic?

  140. what about today, are you trying to tell us that things are smooth?

  144. I’m in Zambia but this man inspires me so much. more especially in his track called Agalatiya. He sang about the government and oppositions.

    5. Mmmm this man has set historical records by winning in two different constituencies as a Member of Parliament i.e. in Blantyre(2004–2009) andMzimba(2009–2014). He could also be considered among one of the youngest people to hold a Deputy Ministerial post in Malawi.

  156. yeah wat he did then was a real display of a patriotic young man

  157. Message so touching and wonderful! Come again Billy, things are even worse now.

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