By Sam Banda Jnr & Blessings Makuwira:
In his song ‘Mzimu Wa Soldier’, legendary musician Soldier Lucius Banda supplicated that he should not be glorified on his death, but who would not exalt the Soldier of the Poor?
Lucius was no ordinary musician in the country and, no wonder, what he pleaded for in his ‘Mzimu Wa Soldier’ track did not come to pass on Thursday afternoon at Sosola Village in Balaka as he got a fitting funeral, including being buried in a casket and not in a simple coffin as per his desire.
He surely smiled as his remains were being interred, with his wife Sunganani leading the way in laying wreaths and, with tears, she upstretched her hands, saying good bye to a husband, friend, father, musician, activist and politician who entertained, informed and educated people with his well plaited songs.
The songs were tied to mature lyrics that touched all the angles—from love, politics, gender-based violence, corruption to religion.
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His children—who included Johnny Zembani, Mapiri and Ben—wore T-shirts with his inscription.
Not only that; they saluted him, giving him a perfect departure from the earth.
Sir Paul Banda, his brother, who taught him music that opened up the way for him to go on a music gallop that fashioned 20 albums including Son of a Poor Man, Life, Down Babylon, Crimes, Survivor and Cease Fire, could only say “go well my brother” after laying his wreath before waving.
President Lazarus Chakwera and First Lady Monica laid their wreaths too; so did Cabinet ministers and several other government officials, politicians, religious and traditional leaders, friends and fellow artists.
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And the cemetery, which is close to the road from Balaka Boma and on the way to Chingeni Turn-off, now lies Lucius, a great musician who has left behind Zembani Band and the annual Sand Music Festival.
As his casket was being lowered, one of his songs rang a bell for sure “Panali chimudzi yapa lero pangotsala ana okhaokha… [There used to be a village here but now only children are remaining]”.
Mayi Zembani, Lucius’ mother, welcomed her son with open arms.
Here is a son who sang about her when she was long gone.
A colossal gathering at Balaka Stadium during a funeral ceremony that saw performances from artists, including Johnny, was enough testimony that Lucius had done tremendous work for Balaka District as well as the entire country.
And, so, in their eulogies, several people described Lucius as a great man and these included Minister of Local Government, Unity and Culture Richard Chimwendo Banda, who spoke on behalf of President Chakwera, who had no energy to speak at the funeral service of his Presidential Advisor on Youth and Arts, UTM secretary general Patricia Kaliati, Musicians Union of Malawi President Vita Chirwa and Copyright Society of Malawi Board Chairperson Bishop Reverend Chimwemwe Mhango.
During the funeral service, Johnny and Mapiri made remarks before rekindling memories to do one of their father’s powerful tracks ‘Nthawi’.
“Let me assure you that Zembani Band will not die; Zembani Band will continue and your [Lucius’] legacy will live on,” Johnny said. Lucius died on Sunday in South Africa where he went to receive medical attention. He was born on August 17 1970.
