The other side of Soldier – Namadingo

Recently, legendary soldier Lucius Banda collaborated with musical innovationist Patience Namadingo to come up with what they called a reggae mash up medley. It is littered with a number of songs that Lucius has recorded over a couple of decades that he has been performing.

While the production is now dominating all entertainment outlets, it has also generated suggestions and accusations from different ‘Monday coaches’ who are pretending as if they knew in the first place that this was in the offing.

In other words, the production came as a pleasant gift to the music fraternity which also help expose Mozy Moshu Shumba on the piano.

I do not want to add any voice to the protagonists or antagonists in this debate. But I thought this should once again have opened eyes to appreciate Lucius Banda’s music gift to this country. 

The product has such tracks like ‘Nthawi’, ‘Mabala’, ‘Yellow’, ‘Esther’, ‘Tina’, ‘Samuel’, Jacuzzi’, ‘Paulendo’, ‘Mzimu wa Soldier’, ‘Lilikuti’, and ‘ A Mike’.

It takes you back down the memory lane; into the passage of time; and gives you Lucius in different earlier shades of his music production. Now that this year he is celebrating his 50th birthday and 25 years in marriage, there is more reason why we cannot help it, but celebrate the man, the politician, the father, brother and the music legend.

And if he so decides to release another album in this 2020, that will also be Lucius Banda’s 20th album, I won’t be surprised if it will be called 2020. Anyway, it is not like I am giving him any idea, ten years ago he released an album, which the Malawi government also banned it on national radio, that he called 15 -15.

Over the years, I, like most of the people in this country and abroad, have come to appreciate that ‘Soldier’ Lucius Banda does not just sit in our music ‘hall of fame’, but he actually provokes veneration as he sits there on the high table.

After the multiparty dispensation it is clear that Lucius Banda played an influential role to chart the way for the Malawi music.

For the records, Lucius is someone who first appeared on stage in 1985 with his brother Sir Paul Banda-led Alleluya Band. By 1993 he had joined Dorkey House in Johannesburg where he studied music for a year and it was around this time that he recorded his maiden album titled 'Son of A Poor Man' at Shandel Music Studio.

After recording his fourth album called ‘Take Over’ in 1997, Lucius graduated from Alleluya to create Zembani Music Company which had also an offshoot in the name of Zembani Band.

Of course, from the word go, he said his intention in forming the band was to help local and up-coming musicians in Malawi.

Many a name that are now hogging the musical limelight have passed through this band. They include Billy Kaunda, Mlaka Maliro, Dan Lufani, Wendy Harawa, Emma Masauko, Enort Mbandambanda, Charles Nsaku and, of course, the late Paul Chaphuka.     

With such a history, the least we can do is to let him wear the cap as it is him whom it fits.

Soldier on one side and Patience on the other was like a vocal contest that told us that Lucius has never been a wanderer in the world of music. He is leaving huge footprints and considering that the soldier’s journey is ongoing, his counsel can do a lot of good to those aspiring to achieve musical success in this country.

Besides his music offerings, he is also trying to offer us his son Johnny. This is a story for another day as I think he has a huge task to be Lucius Banda’s son in the world of music. At the start he won’t be good enough because his toils will always be compared to the achievement of his dad.

Much as it won’t be easy to be Lucius Banda’s son, I hope the best should be expected from Mapiri Bakili Banda, his youngest son.

Long before Jonny came on the scene, Lucius was already fascinated with Mapiri that he once conceded that he thought he could not match the musical prowess that was engrossed in his 10-year-old son.