Very devastating to learn from various social media platforms that the month of June 2024 has regrettably registered the demise of a litany of Malawian public figures including former Vice President Saulos Chilima, Prominent lawyer Ralph Kasambara, Actor and TV presenter Hope Chisanu, former first lady Shanil Patricia Dzimbili Muluzi and many others.
As if such aforementioned instances of sad news were not enough, many Malawians further felt greatly heartbroken when they heard about the passing on of Malawi’s music legend, Lucious Banda nicknamed ‘soldier’ on 30th June 2024.
While genuinely mourning for the untimely loss of such precious lives, this article therefore endeavors to celebrate the life of Lucius Banda by drawing 10 pertinent lessons from his undertakings.
1) Balaka district can also perform wonders
Much as it is on record that Balaka district has been endowed with blessings of producing Malawi’s first ladies such as Shanil Patricia Muluzi and Getrude Mutharika, with the creative initiative of Lucious Banda, Balaka has become an incubator of Music industry in Malawi.
History has it that many notable Malawian music celebrities such as Charles Sinetre, Charles Nsaku, Mlaka Maliro and many others have been trained at Zembani Band whose founder is Lucious Banda.
2) Humble background is not an impedance to prosperity
Lucious shook all the odds of coming from a humble background to become one of the most celebrated music icons in Malawi. His biological father abandoned the family in preference of another woman. Singlehandedly, Lucious’ mother had to fend for their family.
In one of the interviews, Lucious admitted that he did not have shoes when he was conducting his first stage music performance with his elder brother, Paul Banda at Balaka Parish.
However, his determination, creativity and industriousness propelled him to success and prosperity to the extent that at time of his demise, Lucious was the Personal Advisor to President Chakwera on youth matters.
3) Know when to quit
One of the scarce traits of successful people is to be aware of their environment and to know when to quit when the situation becomes unattainable.
When Lucious read the writing on the wall that it was insurmountable to oust the then president of the United Democratic Front (UDF), Atupele Muluzi, he dumped the party and immediately joined Saulos Chilima’s UTM where President Chakwera poached him to later become his presidential advisor.
4) Education is not only a stepladder to prosperity
Much as basic education is important, prosperity has not visited only those who are highly learned. In fact, there exist highly educated poverty-stricken idiots out there. On the other hand, life is also full of illiterate super rich salvages.
Truth must be told here that Lucious Banda really struggled with school at Bilila Distance of Education Centre (DEC). It was not surprising that Lucious wanted to appear educated by forging a Malawi School Certificate of Education (MSCE).
5) Be original
While many youths are busy copying other people’s life style, Lucious remained steadfast by being himself.
As a musician, Lucious did not try to copy and paste other singer’s work. I have regrettably heard upcoming musicians really mimicking their singing as if they are Joseph Nkasa, Lucius Banda, Skeffa Chimoto and many others.
Much as it is not necessary to reinvent a wheel, Lucious’ originality has made his music to stand the test of times.
6) Invest your skills in uplifting others
Lucious knew that any specific generation does not exist forever. It is against this background that he developed a passion to invest his music skills in others by either training them or financially assist them in their music enterprise.
It is no secret now that Lucious Banda mentored many Malawian music legends such as Billy Kaunda, Paul Chaphuka and many others.
7) No person is above the law
In the book entitled “The Way to Happiness”, L Ron Hubbard provides a free piece of advice that people should desist from doing anything illegal even if they think that there is no possibility of being caught redheaded.
Unfortunately, Lucious Banda had a clash with the Malawian laws when he was convicted of forging someone’s MSCE certificate. For sure, no one is above the law.
8) Diversify your life
In addition to being a great musician, Lucious ventured into various fraternities of life. In theism, Lucious was a staunch Catholic believer. He also enjoyed family life blessed with kids for a couple of decades.
Besides being an entrepreneur in music industry, Lucious was an active politician who later became the Member of Parliament (MP) in Balaka where he engineered a litany of social and infrastructural developments.
Lucious music possessed a unique feature as it characterised the voice of the voiceless siding with the underprivileged while rebuking the corrupt and oppressive regime.
The epitome of Lucious’ human rights activism was noted when he moved a motion in the National Assembly to impeach the then State President Bingu wa Mutharika.
9) Be the best you can
Lucious tried his best he could. In music industry, he became a great music icon. In politics, he aspired to be the UDF President. As a family man, he loved his family for decades contrary to the modern fashion of polygamy and divorce practices.
As a practising staunch Catholic, he is on record as few Malawians who once paid a visit to Italy where he had a proximity encounter with the Pope. As an entrepreneur, Zembani band became a renowned name in the music industry.
10) Death is unpredictable
When it was first reported by Lucious that his brother, Paul had critically fallen ill, little did many people expect that Lucious would be the first to face death.
It was now heart breaking to see Paul uncontrollably and openly shedding tears for the death of his young brother, Lucious who had been a source of hope and support during the time of his illness.
In a nutshell, Lucious Banda will continue to be remembered as a great musician, entrepreneur, human rights activist, philanthropist, youth mentor and an accomplished politician. May his soul rest in eternal peace!!
