Lucius Banda

Lucius Chicco Banda (17 August 1970 – 30 June 2024), better known by his stage name Soldier Lucius Banda, was a Malawian singer-songwriter, music producer and politician from Balaka, Malawi.

Music career
Lucius Banda was born on 17 August 1970 in Sosola Village under Group Village headman Kapalamula and Traditional Authority Nsamala in Balaka District of Southern Malawi. His music career started in 1983 when he was 13 years old when he started singing with his brother Paul Banda and leader of Alleluya Band. He first appeared on stage in 1985 with his brother's led Alleluya Band.

Banda started his music career while in elementary school at Mponda Full Primary School. To further his music career, Banda decided to go to music school in South Africa. This dream was fulfilled in 1993 when he joined Dorkey house in Johannesburg, where he spent one full year studying music.

He recorded his first album titled Son of a Poor Man' at Shandel music studio with the help of Argentinian producer George Arigone, and Nomhlanhla Nkhize and Deborah Fraser on backing vocals. His album became popular because of hits like "Mabala", "Get Up Stand Up", "Linda" and "Life on Earth". From there he launched his long career of music.

In 1997, Banda formed his own band, Zembani, after recording his fourth album (Take Over) with the intention to help local and up keeping musicians in Malawi. Meanwhile, many artists in Malawi have been promoted through the auspices of his Zembani Music Band. Zembani Band grew into one of the most celebrated music groups across Africa. His music is loved by millions in Africa. He was well known as the voice of the poor and those who could not be heard. His music depicts the social, economic and cultural constraints faced by ordinary Malawians. He was also a voice against social injustices and inequalities prevalent among African leaders and politicians.

He was controversial in the last days of Hastings Banda's regime. He was the first Malawian musician to sing openly against political oppression in Malawi during the decades of one-party rule.

Banda was host to many popular musicians, helping to begin the careers of Mlaka Maliro, Paul Chaphuka, Billy Kaunda, Cosi Chiwalo, Wendy Harawa, Emma Masauko, Enort Mbandambanda and Charles Nsaku.

Banda experienced the hardest of times as a musician as his music was either banned, censored or sometimes denied venues and segregated against by government.

In 2010, he released another album, 15-15 - My Song, which was banned by the state broadcaster, Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC). In June 2010, Banda and other musicians from Malawi were invited to play in Germany. Their venue in Cologne was the key point for an upcoming 2011 Lucius Banda Europe tour. His travelling to Germany attracted a lot of public and political interest in Malawi. He released Thank you album in 2015. Currently, he had nineteen albums to his credit.

In January 2021, he was admitted to hospital for high blood pressure and released 3 days later. In May 2021, it was revealed that he suffered from kidney failure.

Political career
Until August 2006, he was an MP for the district of Balaka North, but lost his seat because he was convicted of having fake academic qualifications. He was sentenced to 21 months of hard labour in Zomba prison, but released in November 2006, three months and two appeals after his arrest. This experience inspired one of his albums, Cell 51 Maximum.

In the year 2010 he fell out of favor with the DPP-led Government of the late Bingu wa Mutharika (former President of Malawi). Malawians look to him as a mouthpiece on political oppression. Meanwhile, in the 2014 Tripartite Elections, Banda reclaimed his Balaka Central Constituency as Member of Parliament in which he won with a wide margin of 16,303 votes against his competitor who came second with 8,147.

Death
Banda died of renal failure at Sunninghill Hospital in South Africa, at the age of 53.

Studio albums

 * Son of a Poor Man
 * Down Babylon
 * Cease Fire
 * Takeover
 * Yahweh
 * Unity
 * How Long
 * Not Easy Road
 * Money and Power
 * Love and Hate