Malawi musician Lucius Banda speaks his mind

APA-Lilongwe (Malawi) Apart from being the countries best musician, Lucius Banda has the added advantage that he used this to open his door into politics, where he has reached as far as Parliament as a Member of Parliament. Here he takes the time from his busy schedule of performing concerts to have a chat with APA Correspondent Fazila Tembo:

ON ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION

Question: Thousands of young men and women from West, North and East Africa have for the past two years been trying to cross to Europe, using makeshift boats. What is your understanding of such a phenomenon and what do you suggest is the solution to the problem?

Lucius: I have invested a lot in music, and through my investments I have managed to employ and sustain lives of over 20 young people. In turn, they assist and support more than 200 of their relations and friends and everybody who needs their support. To contain illegal immigration, Africa needs massive investments from Europe, and manufacturing plants with the readily available resources will be a good start. Africa should be able to tell Europe not to buy raw materials from Africa, but rather to buy processed and value added products from us. I believe that in renegotiating the EPA’s with the EU should have been based on the same principles of everything but the arms principle. With more jobs and opportunities at home, Africans too will afford to become tourists in Europe one day. Poverty continues to haunt the young and old and the solution is to move them out of that trap. And we can only do this through investments here at home – foreign or local investments.

EUROPE AND AFRICA

Question: The European Parliament on 18 June adopted a law organising, and force, if need be, the “deportation of illegal immigrants”. French President Nicolas Sarkozy, the current chair of the European Union, further urges his European neighbours to suspend the massive regularisation of illegal immigrants and only deliver biometric visas to qualified applicants. What do you think of those measures and what should be Africa’s response?

Lucius: They might be justified legally to take such measures; nobody welcomes illegal immigrants as recent attacks in South Africa have indicated. But is that a solution? Those immigrants are sending billions of euro’s back home. Look at Morocco, Tunisia and even Mauritania — huge chunks of their resources come from remittances from these economies. In the America’s billions of dollars are sent to Mexico and other poor economies. Wholesale barring of immigrants, even those that have stayed long, will send jitters into some economies and stopping regularisation at wholesale will only send more people into crime to survive and bring a lot of instability in Europe. Africa should engage into negotiations with Europe than taking a confrontation style on this sensitive subject.

PAN-AFRICAN GOVERNMENT

Question: African leaders, as shown at the Ghana AU summit, have different views on the timing of a federal government at the continental level as a first step towards the creation of the Unites States of Africa. How pertinent is this idea to you and what do you think is the best way to speed up African unity?

Lucius: First of all, Africa should start identifying itself with acceptable values in all sense and find its identity. On what model will this government be - a Western democracy or patterned after Africa’s own traditional chieftaincy rules? Only when we have an identity through music, culture and development, then we can talk of a Pan-African Government. Right now, let us strengthen the regional groupings like ECOWAS and SADC and come up with one currency and integrate out economies, improve the welfare of the people. Only after integrating regionally, then we can talk of emerging this diverse and politically split but resources rich and lovely continent of ours.

HIGH COST OF LIVING

Question: What is your view of the combined high oil and food prices on the world market and what should Africa’s reaction to these new challenges be?

Lucius: It’s unbearable, especially among our poor people. Africa should start using its resources itself before exporting it so that we could end this material poverty. Unfortunately, that’s not the reality. I would like to appeal to African governments to start subsidising food and oil prices, put in place deliberate policies for such subsidies on food and oil. The international community and donors should move quickly to assist African governments in funding these subsidies.

2010 FIFA WORLD CUP IN AFRICA

Question: Africa will host in less than two years the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. What do you expect from African teams playing in this competition?

Lucius: First of all, the football teams should remain united as Africans and support each other as one. A win for one team from Africa is a victory for us all in Africa. As for our own tea from Malawi, the Flames, we shall fly higher our flags as well as that of the continent to this football extravaganza come 2010.

FUTURE PROJECTS

Question: Where and when are you going to perform during this 2008 holiday season?

Lucius: Across Malawi, in different cities and rural towns. I sing about the people and their welfare. Actually I am called “Soldier” of the poor due this message I use in my music.

Question: Where and when are you going to perform during this 2008 holiday season?

Lucius: Across Malawi, different cities and rural towns, where I sing about the people and their welfare. Actually I am called soldier of the poor.

Question: What is your latest production?

Lucius: My 14th Album titled “FREEDOM”

Question: What is your dearest personal project and what kind of support do you expect?

Lucius: To develop a cultural and music development centre to assist young Malawians, poor Malawians to have skills to assist themselves. It will have musical equipment and training opportunities for the youth. I have already started to construct such a centre in Balaka, a district in southern Malawi.

Question: What achievement are you are the most proud of since you started your music career?

Lucius: I have been able to speak on behalf of the many who do not have a voice. In other words, I am proud of being a voice for the voiceless in this country.

Question: What are some of the obstacles facing artists in their quest for promotion in this country?

Lucius: Copyright and the absence of political will to support the music industry, and the high costs of musical equipment, transport and limited marketing and distribution of our music products.

Discography

Lucius Banda\’s first album called “Son of a Poor Man” was released in 1994 followed by “Down Babylon” in 1995, and then in 1996, “Ceasefire, Take it Over” (1997), “Yahwe” (1998), “Unity” (1999), “Following Jah” (2000), “How Long” (2001), “No Easy Road” (2002), “Money and Power “(2003), “Enemy” (2005), “Survivor” (2006), “Cell 51” (2007) and “Freedom” (2008).

Professional Contacts: Lucius Banda and Zembani Band, P.O. Box 154, Balaka, Cell: 265-9 510 305, 265 1 923 144, luciusbanda@webmail.co.za

Production Firm: Lucius Banda and Zembani Studios, P.O Box 154, Balaka, Malawi. Tel: 265 1 923 144