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.
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 wr.
