Biography of Lucius Banda

Lucius Banda (born 1970) is a Malawian musician and politician. Until August 2006, he was an MP for the district of Balaka North, but lost his seat because he was convicted of having fake academic qualifications. He was sentenced to 21 months of hard labour in Zomba prison, but released in November 2006, three months and two appeals after his arrest. This experience inspired one of his albums, Cell 51 Maximum. Banda started his musical career in the Alleluya Band, but later formed his own band, Zembani. He was controversial to Dr. Hastings Kamuzu Banda's regime. He was the first Malawian musician to sing openly against political oppression in Malawi during the decades of one-party rule. He has been host to many popular musicians, helping to begin the careers of Mlaka Maliro, Paul Chaphuka and Anthony Makondetsa. Banda has changed his music genre after many Malawian musicians copied his style.