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Malawi’s legendary pioneer of contemporary gospel music Paul Banda is like wine. He is getting mature with age.
At a time when people thought he was past the prime, the Balaka-based self-taught music maestro has done the unbelievable, releasing two albums in a row.
Paul — a mentor, producer and elder brother to industrious music star Lucius Banda — has come out from his deep music slumber to drop a second volume of his all spirituals album series in which he is proving to the music world that he is still a force to reckon in the country’s music echelons and the world of music at large.
In an interview this week with Nation Online Banda, who is fondly known as Achikulire (oldman) for his music production prowess, said from his base in Balaka that he is back to fulfil a promise he left behind to his followers and music lovers in the country that someday he would follow up his first volume with another one.
“A promise is a credit and I have to live up to my promise. I know there are a lot of people out there who enjoy my music and I want to give them what they deserve from me,” said Banda.
But Banda, who is owner of one of the Malawi’s renowned music studios, Imbirani Yahwe, said what is unique with his new music is that he has taken a long time to produce it, adding he did not want to compromise quality.
The artists said he has maintained his flavour of Malawian kanindo touch.
“When one listens to the music, one thing that would struck his or her mind is the maturity in it. I have refined some of my old songs such as Limbani Mtima and Mwasankhulidwa. But I am not declaring that the music is the best of contemporary gospel music on the land, that is for people to say after sampling it. For me, all I am saying is that the music is an improved production from me,” said Banda.
The album has 12 songs on CDs and 10 on audio tapes. Some of the songs include Mwe Chiuta, Woyera Woyera, Bwerani Nonse, Wabadwa, Tsiku Lina Liri Nkudza, Mutembenuze Mtima, Zikomo Ndithu and Bwerani Nonse.
Dynamite in music, it is said, comes in small packages and Banda is the living proof of this.
“You don’t just grow so easily in music, it takes a bit of time. It is slow and you need to be patient. As time goes by, maturity takes toll. I am like wine, maturing with time. The problem with many of our blossoming musicians is that they are not mature enough and they do not play music out of passion but for financial gains,” said the Alleluya Band founder.
Talking about the other album, Banda said it will be out as soon as the spirituals album takes off on the market.
The artist explained that he decided to come up with two albums in a row to fulfil his promise on the spirituals album and to respond to requests from fans who wanted him to release another album which will reflect his old style “just to make sure the fans do not starve”.
Said Banda: “With the demands I have been getting from across the country, I know that there are a lot of people who love my music and I wanted to give them a bone to chew. I hope they will enjoy the two albums. But I am still polishing up the second one as I would like it to be more mature and very good for the heart and soul.”
But when is the spirituals album going to be launched?
Banda laughed and said: “ I am not in a competition with anyone and I will just let the music go to the people. With or without a launch, people would still enjoy the music or will not enjoy if the music is bad. So it does not really make any difference. The problem is that each and every musician would like to out do the other with massive album launches, I am not in that category. I sing for the people in the homes.
“I behave like a musician. I don’t talk much of myself. I let the music to do the talking for itself. I am not like a politician who talks much about himself to win favours from the electorate.”
During his heydays, Banda produced several solo albums which include Ambuye Waitana, Chikhristu, Chikondi, Zikomo Mabishopu, Mwana and Spirituals Volume One, among others.
He was also instrumental in producing albums for the Alleluya Band like Tiyanjane, Malilime, Chimwemwe, Uthenga, Mtendere and Kondwerani.
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Malawi’s legendary pioneer of contemporary gospel music Paul Banda is like wine. He is getting mature with age.
At a time when people thought he was past the prime, the Balaka-based self-taught music maestro has done the unbelievable, releasing two albums in a row.
Paul — a mentor, producer and elder brother to industrious music star Lucius Banda — has come out from his deep music slumber to drop a second volume of his all spirituals album series in which he is proving to the music world that he is still a force to reckon in the country’s music echelons and the world of music at large.
In an interview this week with Nation Online Banda, who is fondly known as Achikulire (oldman) for his music production prowess, said from his base in Balaka that he is back to fulfil a promise he left behind to his followers and music lovers in the country that someday he would follow up his first volume with another one.
“A promise is a credit and I have to live up to my promise. I know there are a lot of people out there who enjoy my music and I want to give them what they deserve from me,” said Banda.
But Banda, who is owner of one of the Malawi’s renowned music studios, Imbirani Yahwe, said what is unique with his new music is that he has taken a long time to produce it, adding he did not want to compromise quality.
The artists said he has maintained his flavour of Malawian kanindo touch.
“When one listens to the music, one thing that would struck his or her mind is the maturity in it. I have refined some of my old songs such as Limbani Mtima and Mwasankhulidwa. But I am not declaring that the music is the best of contemporary gospel music on the land, that is for people to say after sampling it. For me, all I am saying is that the music is an improved production from me,” said Banda.
The album has 12 songs on CDs and 10 on audio tapes. Some of the songs include Mwe Chiuta, Woyera Woyera, Bwerani Nonse, Wabadwa, Tsiku Lina Liri Nkudza, Mutembenuze Mtima, Zikomo Ndithu and Bwerani Nonse.
Dynamite in music, it is said, comes in small packages and Banda is the living proof of this.
“You don’t just grow so easily in music, it takes a bit of time. It is slow and you need to be patient. As time goes by, maturity takes toll. I am like wine, maturing with time. The problem with many of our blossoming musicians is that they are not mature enough and they do not play music out of passion but for financial gains,” said the Alleluya Band founder.
Talking about the other album, Banda said it will be out as soon as the spirituals album takes off on the market.
The artist explained that he decided to come up with two albums in a row to fulfil his promise on the spirituals album and to respond to requests from fans who wanted him to release another album which will reflect his old style “just to make sure the fans do not starve”.
Said Banda: “With the demands I have been getting from across the country, I know that there are a lot of people who love my music and I wanted to give them a bone to chew. I hope they will enjoy the two albums. But I am still polishing up the second one as I would like it to be more mature and very good for the heart and soul.”
But when is the spirituals album going to be launched?
Banda laughed and said: “ I am not in a competition with anyone and I will just let the music go to the people. With or without a launch, people would still enjoy the music or will not enjoy if the music is bad. So it does not really make any difference. The problem is that each and every musician would like to out do the other with massive album launches, I am not in that category. I sing for the people in the homes.
“I behave like a musician. I don’t talk much of myself. I let the music to do the talking for itself. I am not like a politician who talks much about himself to win favours from the electorate.”
During his heydays, Banda produced several solo albums which include Ambuye Waitana, Chikhristu, Chikondi, Zikomo Mabishopu, Mwana and Spirituals Volume One, among others.
He was also instrumental in producing albums for the Alleluya Band like Tiyanjane, Malilime, Chimwemwe, Uthenga, Mtendere and Kondwerani.
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