Will the ‘old Lucius Banda’ be possible in 2017?

Jan 13, 2017 Entertainment 110
Advertisement
Lucius Banda

On Monday, January 09, 2017, a nostalgic Lucius Banda, through a Facebook post on his account, reminded his fans of the year 1997.

He was twenty seven years old then, released his fourth album, ‘Take Over’, and more importantly, had made one of the major decisions of his life, career and music in Malawi: He formed his own Zembani Music Company after flourishing under the wings of his parent band, Alleluyah.

He recalled one of his masterpieces from the album, ‘Mulandireni’, largely, a Kamuzu Banda tribute but with mentions of other fallen known people like his friend, Paul Chaphuka, the Nobel Laureate Catholic Nun, Mother Teresa, Nigerian Afro-singer, Fela Kuti, Princess Diana of the United Kingdom, and the Zairean dictator, Mobutu Seseseko. The song was befitting the positive legacy of Kamuzu Banda. After three decades in power, Kamuzu Banda left two sides of himself and either of it shows up depending on who you are talking to.

But the biggest news in the post was the announcement that he will be coming up with an album that will remind us of the old Lucius Banda. Since 2003, Lucius Banda successfully attempted a change in the sound of his music. With Balaka reggae, the music that brought him and a host of others into the limelight, losing its steam, he started slowing down his sound and removed the signature keyboard sound.

Such endeavors, and also lack of them, had ended the music careers of several artists who had clung to the Balaka beat. But it was different with him. Songs like ‘Tina’ in 2002, which were unlike him in both message and beat, since Balaka was never known to be into love songs, propelled his career. It was easy for people to easily accept the new him. And that was the Lucius Banda we experienced for the next decade.

Before 2003, Lucius Banda was simply a man who took whatever was in his mind to the studio, released it and let his words do the mission. Although he was into politics, and clearly hard on the former ruling Malawi Congress Party (MCP) and soft with the then ruling United Democratic Front (UDF), he was not the kind of man who delved into party politics. It made him have the authority among people. He was the objective voice.

Lucius Banda
Lucius Banda: Could he live his past?

But in 2004, when he contested and won the seat of Member of Parliament for Balaka North under the UDF ticket, he had taken himself into the risky party politics and effectively divided his fan base. His political career made him lose his objectivity and eventually became a UDF mouthpiece. But he had mastered the ways of Malawi music such that amidst such career risk, he continued making political songs that people loved.

But the beat remained non-Balaka, and for the subsequent albums, he had abandoned using IY studios or his brother, Paul, as music producer. He sometimes could record in South Africa just to make sure that he came out sounding according to his times. Music in Malawi has changed, especially from 2005. Balaka reggae, the once dominant sound was over. What we now call urban music was rising, together with Chileka and Mayaka music, being led by the Black Missionaries band and Joseph Nkasa, respectively.

Balaka reggae had too much depended on Lucius Banda. When he abandoned it, there was no other way it could survive. But it was not deliberate of him. He was simply looking for more ways of making himself relevant in the changing times. That is the legacy he holds in Malawi music; he knows how to maneuver through the times and still maintain his top spot. Urban music is doing well these days, but Lucius Banda is still around topping the charts with the young generation, doing music shows that attract large audiences, being asked for collaborations and releasing anticipated albums.

But he has promised to take us back to the good old days in his 2017 album. Will it be possible? To begin with, never underestimate his intelligent mind. He was the one behind the popularization of the Balaka beat. He knows its ways and where he left it. He can easily go and give it back its lost soul. But it should be stated clear that we do not have a clear understanding of ‘the old Lucius’, as he said.

His music can be divided into two parts, from 1993 to 2003, when he sounded Balaka, and from 2003 to present, when he successfully experimented on the new sound. If he is talking about the old Lucius Banda, it means the pre-2004 one. And one thing to be noted is that if he is planning on this, he will have to work again with the people that used to make it possible for him. Among these can be his brother Paul, Coss Chiwalo, Foster Chimangafisi, Felix Jere and not forgetting the female backing voices of Eliza Kachali-Kaunda.

More to that, Lucius’ message has been changing with the times. From 1993 to 2003, the political climate had a heavy influence on him. Malawi had just become a democracy and his music then was largely on how the society and the leaders were responding to such changes. He analyzed the environment and made sure the debate between multiparty democracy and one party still remained in people. The fact that he had no political party then made his message relevant.

In 2017, while an active member of a political party, he cannot go back to this moment. But he has proved to be a man who knows his society well and can rise up and give people a powerful analysis. Being active for two decades in the music industry, contesting as a member of parliament, winning, being jailed and coming back to win the seat is enough experience on its own.

The announcement has come at the right time. Just as people had gotten used to the Balaka beat then, they have also gotten used to his present beat. Any change to the past will give people a new Lucius Banda, and expect the album to be successful. The fortunate part of his mission is that almost all the people who used to work with him in the Balaka beat days are alive and active.

If his plans are to sound like how it was in 1998, people like Paul Banda, Coss Chiwalo, Foster Chimangafisi, Felix Jere and Eliza Kachali-Kaunda should be ready to get back into the studio and pull a vintage work. People are having high expectations on this project. With what he has proved us in the last two decades, there is no doubt that if he still understands hi past sound well and uses the right people, Malawi will once again witness the old Lucius Banda.

About the writer: Wonderful Mkhutche is a speech writer, a political scientist and a manuscript editor and developer.

 

Advertisement

110 Comments

  3. soldier ndi soldier ine ndimamukonda 47 ndizochepa pitilizani kuimba happy birth day pamalawi palibenso woimba ngati soldier enaonse ndiana

  6. Maulemu apite koyenera kulandira ulemu… Lucius ndi mtondo osati ana osasamba ammakwalalawa,alibhiii manthongo,zipwembwenene kuno

  14. Kumayamika pantchito zabwino zamzako chifukwa mulungu amakudalitsa chifukwa chamoyo opanda jealous, ulemu wanu abanda

  15. Cant wait for this new album from Soldier………whether one likes it or not, soldier is one the best Musicians in this country and he had never disappointed me…….He is talented and intelligent hencehe is still toping music charts in this country……..

    …

  20. Thankx soja mwatukula malawi. wina akanyoza muwazolowele amalawi ndiotelo. koma Nsaku,. Paul sibili,. Bvalamanja mwawauza????

  21. Ine nkhawa zonse balala;;; ndikamavela munthu wankulu solder Lucius mwana wa a ABanda amene zikumuwawa akakolope Ku nyanja kkkkkkk (lira)

  22. aaaa sizitheka zosiya kuyimbazo .nyimbo zanu mumakhala uthenga wogwila mtima ngat kuli woyimba amene amatiimilila kun ku BALAKA ndy nd LCS B ndy chan musiye aaaa mukasiya titasiye kuvela nyimbo tikhala ambili .enanu musamangonyoza kuyimba kwanu mwayamba pompano thawi ya ufulu anzanu anakumana nd zokhoma zambili lero ndiamenew ndy akasiye kuyimba ai kufikila kumwamba kuzanene kut amen

  26. Pitilizani a soldier mwana wakwathu kuli oyimba akuluakulu inu ndi mfana achina snoop Lion ,Eminem ndi ena ambiri koma kumwaza sound chimozimozi asakunamizeni ana za urban music samatha keep on going

  28. Amene akunyoza lucius ndi mfiti,chifukwa achinyamata ena mukuwayamikilawo aphuzitsidwa ndi luciusyo ndiye enanu musamangonyoza palibe chomwe kukuziwa.

  30. Lucious Banda ndi munthu wamkulu amayimba zonse zomwe a Malawi amazifuna za chikondi, za mavuto amuthu amayimba zopanginsanso kuti azisogoleri anthu asinthe khalidwe amayimbanso

  33. Pliz mr Lucius Banda konzani chipani cha udf zomango nkhala munkhwapa za anthu Ena ifeyo tatopa nazo. Kuti tidziwe democracy because ov udf and aford, dpp ndi mwana WA udf sikunga nkhale kotheka kuti bambo wabeleka mwana nkumayendelaso zeru za mwana.

  34. Zilimbanani ana inu ife pano pheee kudikira zachaka chino 2017 kuli zotani osati za meneme mukunenawa koma oyimba wathu Lucius Banda. Ngati ndinkhalamba akhale agogo anu aja.

  38. i would love to see people like Paul Banda, Coss Chiwalo, Foster Chimangafisi, Felix Jere and Eliza Kachali-Kaunda should be ready to get back into the studio…Waiting for you Sojah….bring it on..Jah bless

  40. Izo ndiye zowona zoti Lucius ndioyimba pamalawipo koma nyimbo zake zovina ndi kumvela anthu okonda ndale nanga pamowa ungavine nyimbo Ya lucius banda lokoni paukwati uyo ndi wandale koma ayamatawa ayi ndithu akutichosa manyazi pano pa jhasbus makamaka sweet bananayo Ali bhoo achina rap skaff uyu ndiye amati ndi lucky d Du wapamalawi osati enawo aliku out of model achiyamata pitilizani kutivesa kukoma

  45. Lucius Banda ndi oyimba yekhayo mmalawi muno popanda opikisana naye. Kuchokera pa nambala 1 mpaka 12 palibe wina enawo azibwera kuyambira pa nambala 13 kumapita kutsogoloko

  46. Ka 47 years nkachaninso?akunama Soldier,ziyimba basi asakufuna kunvera nyimbo zako asiye,sakukakamizidwa,but for me i lov ur songz kwambiri,everyone hav got choice to listern nyimbo zomwe amakonda,big up Lucius Nabanda

  47. winawe choti uziwe ndi ichi lucius adakali mwana ,47 yrs sikut ndiwakulu ai atha kumayimba paka 70 or kuposa poteropo, bwanji olivr mtukuzi adakali kuimba paka pano nde muzikati fwefwe pa lucius iwe kape eti ,ngat zimakunyatsa go to hell

  49. Yense wati lucius wakalamba ndichisilu munthu anayamba wakalamba ndizaka 47,amasambatu uyu asakalamba azambuyanu osasamba aja,zaugalu basi

  53. A big hand 2 lucius mwana wa Banda, hs z elder pa nkhani za sound enawa ofunika azikagulitsa minkhaka ,tomato ndi chomolia.Dot 4gt chikuni chachikulu ndichochimasunga motoo.Kip on singin’ Mr Banda, ife tizikusapotani enawa ndi a china.

  55. Mmmmm guys Lucius ndioyimba ndipo palibe amene angafaname naye pa mayimbidwe kumalawi. Inayi ndi nsanje guys. Munthu akangolemela basi ndiwasatanic kkkkkkk nanu kaloweni mulemele

    1. Chiwanda chaumphawi chisakulankhuliseni mopusa,,,,Lucius ndiolimbikira komanso ndimmodzi wolimbikitsa amphawife mmaimbidwe ake #Paulendowo

    2. Chiwanda chaumphawi chisakulankhuliseni mopusa,,,,Lucius ndiolimbikira komanso ndimmodzi wolimbikitsa amphawife mmaimbidwe ake #Paulendowo

    3. Chiwanda chaumphawi chisakulankhuliseni mopusa,,,,Lucius ndiolimbikira komanso ndimmodzi wolimbikitsa amphawife mmaimbidwe ake #Paulendowo

    5. #ozitchura Richard we, yang’ana kaye pomwe ulipo ndipomwe utasukuluze za zako koz ngat iwe zinakukanika kuzipe,era chonchita usayambe waweruza wina pomwe zako sizinayere samala mulungu akukuonatu ntchito xako

  60. Ndiye Lucius simumadziwatu. Ameneuja ndi oyimba mapeto . Musatengeke ndi ena akuyimba za ma Nigerians nkumati oyimba ,aaaaaaaaaa mukunamatu inu ndipo Lucius sanakalambe .

  65. Zimakhala bwino ukadzitaya nsanga,chifukwa ukakamila kwambili umaputsa nazo,chifukwa panopa tikati oyimba pa Malawi pano ndi Skeffa Chimoto ndi ti ana timene tikumenya urban achina Dan Lu,Nepman ndi ena ambili.Nganga zakalezi zikanapuma kaye.Lucius akumanena kuti 2019 tidzavotere achinyamata nkhalamba zatopesa,nanga iyeyo poti ndi nkhalamba yoimba bwanji Sakusiya kuimbako.Zoonadi ulenje umasimbadi wa nzako.

    4. Pa Malawi pano sitingakambe za music osatchulamo Lucius Banda. Banda sungayerekeze ndi fazi ikuyimba chamba cha ku Nigeria. banda anabadwa ndi luso loimba.tsono luso sungamuuze munthu asiye ngati ndikumwa kachasu. ndichifukwa anthu aluso akamwalira anthu otsala amalozabe lusulo. Matafale anamwalira koma poti anali ndi luso limakambidwa mpaka lero.ukamavera nyimbo zake ngat zatuluka dzulo. Lucius ndi oimba mbambande

    5. Kudzitaya ndi nzeru.Vuto a Malawi mumadziwa kuti Munthuyi watha ngati makatani,koma mumamulimbikitsabe mpaka atasanduka chakakala chaziya.kapenanso atafika pothetsetsa ngati Chipani cha pp kapena ngatinso a John Tembo..

    8. Ukutchula anthu oti nyimbo zowalembera,zida samatha kuyimba…iwo bola kujambulitsa mawuwo basi.Lucious ndi wa zonse…iye ndi mzati wa nyimbo pa Nyasaland.

    9. Sindikubwedzera za mwano wanenazo,koma ndifuna ndikuudze kuti ine sichibwenzi chako kuti unene kuti “kupusa”kodi ma fb panopa tili ndi ma hule opanda mapanti ambili eti?

    10. Mbuzi yamunthu iwe pa malawi ungakambe zoimba popanda kumutchula Licius Banda? Ena onse watchulawo ukawafunse kuti kodi nzati wa oyimba mdziko muno ndindani ukamve kuti akakuyankha bwanji

    15. Tiisamamuyamikire munthu akamwalira kunena zoona LUCIUS ndi m’modzi mwa anthu oyimba bwino kwambiri ku malawiko. Ulemu wake soldier.

Comments are closed.