Sir Paul Banda is a Malawian musician, songwriter, producer and videographer. [1] In 2023, Banda received a lifetime award. He is a member of the Malawian pop group called the Alleluya Band, [2] which he founded in the 1970s. [3] He is regarded as the founder of modern Malawi music. During his time in early 2000s and 1990s, he taught different artists to sing. These artists include Malume Bokosi, Lucius Banda, Paul Chaphuka and many more. He is the older brother of Lucius Banda. [4]
In 1996, Banda produced the Malawi's highest selling album of all time titled "Cease fire" that sold 2 million copies under IY studios production, sung by Lucius. It sold the first 600,000 copies in a single week. Banda's song "Tiima Pamodzi" is about establishing a sense of national identity among the Malawi people. [5]
Malawi, officially the Republic of Malawi and formerly known as Nyasaland, is a landlocked country in Southeastern Africa. It is bordered by Zambia to the west, Tanzania to the north and northeast, and Mozambique to the east, south and southwest. Malawi spans over 118,484 km2 (45,747 sq mi) and has an estimated population of 19,431,566. Malawi's capital and largest city is Lilongwe. Its second-largest is Blantyre, its third-largest is Mzuzu and its fourth-largest is its former capital, Zomba. It was the first capital city of Malawi before being changed to Lilongwe.
The History of Malawi covers the area of present-day Malawi. The region was once part of the Maravi Empire. In colonial times, the territory was ruled by the British, under whose control it was known first as British Central Africa and later Nyasaland. It becomes part of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland. The country achieved full independence, as Malawi, in 1964. After independence, Malawi was ruled as a one-party state under Hastings Banda until 1994.
Politics of Malawi takes place in a framework of a presidential representative democratic republic, whereby the President of Malawi is both head of state and head of government, and of a multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in both the government and the National Assembly. There is a cabinet of Malawi that is appointed by the President of Malawi. The judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature.
Hastings Kamuzu Banda was the leader of Malawi from 1964 to 1994. He served as Prime Minister from independence in 1964 to 1966, when Malawi was a Dominion / Commonwealth realm. In 1966, the country became a republic and he became the first president as a result, ruling until his defeat in 1994.
The music of Malawi has historically been influenced by its triple cultural heritage of British, African, and American music. Malawians, known for their history as travellers and migrant workers, have contributed to the spread of their music across the African continent, blending it with various musical forms. A significant factor in this musical amalgamation was World War II, during which soldiers transported music to distant lands and brought it back, leading to the popularity of guitar and banjo duos as dance bands by the war's end. Both instruments were imported. Additionally, Malawians working in mines in South Africa and Mozambique influenced the fusion of music styles, giving rise to genres such as Kwela.
Yatuta Chisiza was a Malawi minister of home affairs who led a brief guerrilla incursion into the country in October 1967. He is considered one of the most important figures in pre and post colonial politics in Malawi.
Joyce Hilda Banda is a Malawian politician, who served as President of Malawi, from 7 April 2012 to 31 May 2014. Banda took office as President following the sudden death of President Bingu wa Mutharika. She is the founder and leader of the People's Party, created in 2011. An educator and grassroots women's rights activist, she was the Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2006 to 2009 and the Vice-President of Malawi from May 2009 to April 2012. She has served in various roles as a member of Parliament and as Minister of Gender and Child Welfare before she became the President of the Republic of Malawi.
Lucius Chicco Banda, better known by his stage name Soldier Lucius Banda, is a Malawian singer-songwriter, music producer and politician from Balaka, Malawi.
Malawian cannabis, particularly the strain known as Malawi Gold, is internationally renowned as one of the finest sativa strains from Africa. According to a World Bank report it is among "the best and finest" marijuana strains in the world, generally regarded as one of the most potent psychoactive pure African sativas. The popularity of this variety has led to such a profound increase in marijuana tourism and economic profit in Malawi that Malawi Gold is listed as one of the three "Big C's" in Malawian exports: chambo, chombe (tea), and chamba (cannabis).
Tapiwa "Tapps" Bandawe is a Malawian record producer. He lived in South Africa for two years before returning to Malawi. He is credited for producing the music of popular Malawian singers, such as Lucky Dube, Brenda Fassie, Jozi, 2Face (Nigeria), Nameless (Kenya), K’Millian (Zambia), Lucius Banda, Mlaka Maliro, Theo Thompson and Phyzix (Malawi) just to name a few. His studio is called Audio Vision Studio.
Charles Jameson Matinga was a politician in Nyasaland before the colony obtained independence from the British.
Rose Lomathinda Chibambo was a prominent politician in the British Protectorate of Nyasaland in the years leading up to independence as the state of Malawi in 1964, and immediately after.
The Malawi Defence Force is the state military organisation responsible for defending Malawi. It originated from elements of the British King's African Rifles, colonial units formed before independence in 1964.
Francis Kaphuka known professionally as Hyphen and formerly as Young Kay is a popular Malawian hip-hop artist that is known for fusing local Malawian folk songs with international genres. He is known for his vibrant sound and ability to mix Chichewa and English lyrics eloquently in his rhymes. This has earned him recognition as one of Malawi's best lyricists. He has been voted as Malawi’s best rapper twice Joy FM fans and in 2021 was crowned King of Malawian Hiphop by the audience of one of Malawi's biggest online platforms, Mikozi Networks. He was introduced to Malawian audiences under Rush records with the single “I’m Home” and his popularity grew to solidify his place as one of Malawi's greatest hip-hop artists. He has had subsequent hits since then. His song “zipepese” number 2 on FM 101 Power’s urban music chart. In 2010 he collaborated with Malawian born rising act Onesimus Muzik on a track titled "Beautiful" He also collaborated with Lucius Banda, Tigris, and Maskal on track "Malawi Goodlife" in 2011.
The cabinet crisis of 1964 in Malawi occurred in August and September 1964 shortly after independence when, after an unresolved confrontation between the Prime Minister, Hastings Banda and the cabinet ministers present on 26 August 1964, three ministers and a parliamentary secretary were dismissed on 7 September. These dismissals were followed by the resignations of three more cabinet ministers and another parliamentary secretary, in sympathy with those dismissed. Initially, this only left the President and one other minister in post, although one of those who had resigned rescinded his resignation within a few hours. The reasons that the ex-ministers put forward for the confrontation and subsequent resignations were the autocratic attitude of Banda, who failed to consult other ministers and kept power in his own hands, his insistence on maintaining diplomatic relations with South Africa and Portugal and a number of domestic austerity measures. It is unclear whether the former ministers intended to remove Banda entirely, to reduce his role to that of a non-executive figurehead or simply to force him to recognise collective cabinet responsibility. Banda seized the initiative, firstly, by dismissing some of the dissidents rather than negotiating, and secondly, by holding a debate on a motion of confidence on 8 and 9 September 1964. As the result of the debate was an overwhelming vote of confidence, Banda declined to reinstate any of the ministers or offer them any other posts, despite the urging of the Governor-General to compromise. After some unrest, and clashes between supporters of the ex-ministers and of Banda, most of the former left Malawi in October with their families and leading supporters, for Zambia or Tanzania. One ex-minister, Henry Chipembere went into hiding inside Malawi and, in February 1965 led a small, unsuccessful armed uprising. After its failure, he was able to arrange for his transfer to the USA. Another ex-minister, Yatuta Chisiza, organised an even smaller incursion from Mozambique in 1967, in which he was killed. Several of the former ministers died in exile or, in the case of Orton Chirwa in a Malawian jail, but some survived to return to Malawi after Banda was deposed and to return to public life.
Emily Lilly Mkamanga was a Malawian writer and social commentator. She was one of the few well-known female writers in Malawi.
Joseph Tembo was a musician and politician from Malawi. He had collaborated with Sally Nyundo, Lucius Banda, Mlaka Maliro and many other Malawian artists. He produced and promoted many upcoming artists including Andrew Matrauza, whose first successful single was Musadabwe. Tembo's style of music resembles Zimbabwean mbira music as he is a Sena, a southern Malawian tribe that has a common ancestry. For more than once he had performed and played alongside the late Oliver Mtukudzi.
Moses Makawa is a Malawian musician and songwriter. He has collaborated with Lucius Banda, Billy Kaunda, Phungu Joseph Nkasa, and Katelele Ching'oma. Makawa is the maker of ‘Ali Mmanjamanja'. His themes in his music remain about witchcraft, magic, love, criticism, blasts on perpetrators of injustices. In 2010s, he partnered with Katelele Ching'oma and Mozambican Afro Kilos in a song "Ndilandileni".
Alleluya Band is an oldest Malawian music group founded by Paul Banda his brother Lucius Banda from Balaka. The band started and rose to fame in 1970s. The band's current leader is Coss Chiwalo. In 2021, the group released their 13th album in May. In 2018 and 2019, the band visited Rome and met with Pope Francis for Panama for World Youth Day. In 2020, after the band embarked from Italy, they were quarantined due to Covid-19. The band has also shared stage with different artists such as Skeffa Chimoto and Dan Lufani.
Maso Awards are Malawian music award show that was established in early 2019 to celebrate entertainers and other minorities in music, film, philanthropy and fashion. The event takes place in Malawian major cities and it is featured by performances from artists. They are one of the major Malawi's local music industry awards. The awards recognizes Malawian music from all genres, including gospel. The awards also promote culture and encourages people to showcase their talents. The awards categories are split into male and female.