Off the wall of Stanley Kenani: Appreciating ‘soldier’ Lucius Banda
Today, I want to appreciate Lucius Chiccio Banda.
The man loves his country.
About 25 years ago, he sang the most revolutionary song any musician in Malawi has ever dared to sing: Mabala. The song shook the foundations of a dictatorship.
The government of the day did not like him for that.
Since bursting on Malawi’s music scene, he has always been its biggest star, while remaining humble as ever.
He has even groomed some big names. He let them fly on their own. He let their light shine. Mr Banda is not a man full of envy.
Our national anthem asks God to liberate us from three enemies: hunger, disease and envy. Mr Banda’s heart is already liberated from envy.
When he stepped into the national limelight, he declared that he wanted to speak for the marginalized voices of our society, and he has. For 25 years or more.
We must appreciate people while they are still alive, and today I want to appreciate Lucius Banda.
When he joined politics, the United Democratic Front, to which he belongs, should have known they were accepting a revolutionary in their ranks.
He was not one of the feeble-minded automatons who are easily remote-controlled by a big man operating behind the scenes.
Lucius is one of the most independent-minded politicians we will ever have.
There is not a single government that has liked him.
And he doesn’t care. After all, in the early 90s, when he came onto the scene, he did not say he was going to be a stool for the powerful.
He said he was going to be a soldier for the poor. And he, fiercely, remains a soldier that noone can push over, not even the president of our republic.
Thank you very much, Lucius. People like you give me hope that not all is lost for our country. Keep the fire burning.
I am troubled by this column because people seem to respect the author more than they digest the subject matter at hand. Lucius Banda can be indeed be appreciated as a renowned musician but not human right champion. He sang bad songs about MCP (True). Some few about UDF but became its die-hard only because of self enrichment. Look here, UDF plundered Malawi big time and the Corrupt Kingpin – Mudyomba Eleson aka Six Pounds. Amwenye became too rich during UDF and are now enslaving us giving them privatised entities such as Chipiku (Pramod Kalaria and Friends), Mizikiti kumanga along… Read more »
The article has ended abruptly. Lucious became a bit biased when the UDF government came into power. Check his music always defending Muluzi. This is where his songs became a little bit diluted. He also kind of messed it when he sided with a chair when Bingu fell apart with Muluzi. He song songs in praise of UDF when most of the population hated the party. But true indeed; it seems Lucius has fought more battles with different regimes. Just like Kamulepo Kalua. Lucius has even strived to remain in his career of music despite becoming a member of parliament.… Read more »
This man nicknamed soldier is not a bootlicker rather a handclapper like others. Thumbs up Lucius Chicco Banda i salute you.
Sure!he is not the common Malawian politician.
PEOPLE ARE APPRECIATED WHEN THEY DIE BECAUSE THEY’D LIVED A FULL CYCLE OF THEIR LIVES. THE NBEST EXAMPLE WHO’S WORKS DURING HIS FIRST 5 YEARS IN POWER WERE PERCEIVED TO BE THE WOODWORK OF HIS HEART, DO WE NEED TO BE REMINDED HOW HE PERFORMED THEREAFTER, ANOTHER ONE IS KAMUZUAND THEN OH, THE LIST GOES ON AND ON.
PERSONALLY I DON’T LIKE IDOLISING PEOPLE LIKE THIS SCRIPT ABOVE!!!
True. Soldier Lucius Banda is a real man. He is humble and courageous. He is not a kind of a person who can be tossed to and fro by any wind like these other stupid politicians. Malawi could have been somewhere if we had at least 50 MPs of Lucius Banda’s caliber. Unfortunately Malawi is full of opportunists as MPs and politicians. Wishing Lucious Banda all the best.
DEAR MALAWIANS OF GOOD WILL !!
WE HAVE THREE TRUE NOTABLE/RESPECTED SONS
WHO CAN TAKE OUR MOTHER MALAWI TO ANOTHER LEVEL COME 2019 PRESIDENCY BEYOND
THESE TRUE SONS ARE
NUMBER 1 SHERPHERD BUSHIRI
Major 1 phd
NUMBER 2 BWANA MICHAEL USI
MANGANYA
NUMBER 3 LUCIUS BANDA
SOLDIER FOR THE POOR
THE REST OF THE CANDIDATES
WILL BE AT OUR/ YOUR OWN RISKS
MAY GOD BLESS M OTHER MALAWI
CHILUNGAMO
Very true…. keep up the good work Lucius. I wish there were more like you in Parliament
soldier ndi akatundu omanga ndi mawaya..