Lucius Banda was born in Sosola Village in Group Village headman Kapalamula and Traditional Authority Nsamala in Balaka District of Southern Malawi. His music career started in 1983 when he was 13 years old when he started singing with his brother Paul Banda and leader of Alleluya Band. He first appeared on stage in 1985 with his brother's led Alleluya Band. To further his music career Lucius Banda decided to go to music school in South Africa. This dream was fulfilled in 1993 when he joined Dorkey house in Johannesburg, where he spent one full year studying music.
He recorded his first album titled 'Son of a Poor Man' at shandel music studio with the help of producer George Arigone (an Argentinian) on backing vocals. He had Nomhlanlha nkhize and the now famous gospel singer Debora Freser. His album became popular because of hits like Mabala, Get up stand up, Linda and Life On Earth.
In 1997, Lucius Banda formed his own band, Zembani, with the intention to help local and up keeping musicians in Malawi. Meanwhile, many artists in Malawi have been promoted through the auspices of his Zembani Music Band. He has been host to many popular musicians, helping to begin the careers of Mlaka Maliro, Paul Chaphuka, Billy Kaunda, Emma Masauko, Charles Nsaku, and Victor Paul.
Zembani Band has grown into one of the most celebrated music groups across Africa. His music is loved by millions in Africa. He is well known as the voice of the poor and those who can not be heard. His music depicts the social, economic and cultural constraints faced by ordinary Malawians. He has also been a voice against social injustices and inequalities prevalent among African leaders and politicians. 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.
Lucius Banda has experienced the hardest of times as a musician as his music has either been banned censored and sometimes denied venues and segregated against by government. In 2010 he released another album, 15-15- my song, which was banned by the state broadcaster, Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC).
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'. Meanwhile, in the 2014 Tripartite Elections, Lucius Banda reclaimed his Balaka Central Constituency as Member of Parliament in which he won with a wide margin.
Lucius Banda has changed his music genre after many Malawian musicians copied his style. As of 2022, he has nineteen albums to his credit not counting the productions that he has mastered for other artists.
Tina
Lucius Banda Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Eh koma iye a likonko?
Eh wabwera
Iwe Tina tabwera
Ndili ndi timawu
Ndikupita ku Lilongwe
Ndikafune ntchito
Ndivekeko mphete
Kuti ikhale chikole chachikondi changa
Ena amanene banja sindalama
Koma ine nditi lero
Banja siumphawiso, ndukafuna ndalama
Tizamange banja
Usazavutike Tina ndi umphawi wanga
Ndiwe okongola
Ndiwe okongola Tina
Ndiwe okongola undidikilire
Ndiwe okongola
Ndiwe okongola weche weche
Ndiwe okongola undidikilire
Wakusalala wakusalala Tina
Wakusalala undidikilire
Wakusalala perfume wakokokoko
Wakusalala undidikilire
Ndikuziwa kuti kwanu sunkadya therere
Tina ndiyesesa chonde kuti uzakondwe
Ndizakuchotsa ku mangochi kunka ku mangoni
Uzasiya kudya nsomba uzizadya nyama
Akabwera amuna ozakufunsira
Uwaonetse mphete yanga
Uli pachibwenzi
Zina zimakhala nkhakamira za ma benz awo Tina
Uzikanitsitse mami
Uzikanitsitse mami
Zikhwaya zammangochi
Ndiwe okongola
Ndiwe okongola Tina
Ndiwe okongola undidikilire
Ndiwe okongola
Ndiwe okongola weche weche
Ndiwe okongola undidikilire
Wakusalala wakusalala Tina
Wakusalala undidikilire
Wakusalala perfume wakokokoko
Wakusalala undidikilire
Kodi tina ulikumva iwe?
Aiye uli konko?
Amuna ambiri lero ndi aulesi zedi
Angolowa m'banja alibe kali konse
Mkazi akamamphe nyama
Ati okonda chuma
Usampute mwana waeni ulibe kalikonse\
Pali akazi ena ndionyada udyo
Ndalama zandiwo mai
Kuthera kuziphoda
Kukongola kwa mkazi
Ndikugwira ntchito Tina ndikusekelera
Ndiwe okongola
Ndiwe okongola Tina
Ndiwe okongola undidikilire
Ndiwe okongola
Ndiwe okongola weche weche
Ndiwe okongola undidikilire
Wakusalala wakusalala Tina
Wakusalala undidikilire
Wakusalala perfume wakokokoko
Wakusalala undidikilire
Iwetu Tina palibetu wina koma ndiwe wekha wakusalala pangali
Iwetu Tina palibetu wina koma ndiwe wekha wakusalala pangali
Once upon a time...
Ndiwe okongola
Ndiwe okongola Tina
Ndiwe okongola undidikilire
Ndiwe okongola
Ndiwe okongola weche weche
Ndiwe okongola undidikilire
Wakusalala wakusalala Tina
Wakusalala undidikilire
Wakusalala perfume wakokokoko
Wakusalala undidikilire
The song "Tina" by Lucius Banda is sung in Chichewa, one of Malawi's official languages. The song describes two characters, Tina and the singer, who seem to have some form of relationship that is on the verge of collapsing. Both of them are asking each other if they are in a certain place, with Tina asking if the singer is close to her, and the singer wondering if Tina is nearby. The singer then proceeds to ask Tina for money and a place to stay as he goes to Lilongwe to look for work. He also asks her to keep his heart close to hers by planting a tree that would symbolize their love, showing that he still has feelings for her. Tina responds to this by saying that her family, who have no money, will not support them, and hence the singer should not burden her with his financial troubles.
The song tackles themes of love, trust, and financial struggles. The singer is in financial trouble and seeks Tina's help, but Tina is hesitant to offer her support due to her own financial struggles. The song also states that some women may refuse to support their partners financially, despite the men supporting them when they face similar troubles. The song emphasizes the importance of communication and mutual support in a relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
Kodi Tina ali konko? mumuitane ali konko
Do you know where Tina is? Is her mother around?
Eh koma iye a likonko?
Oh but where is she? At the farm?
Eh wabwera
Oh, you've come.
Iwe Tina tabwera
You, Tina, have come.
Ndili ndi timawu
I have words.
Ndikupita ku Lilongwe
I am going to Lilongwe.
Ndikafune ntchito
I am looking for work.
Undipatse chala Tina
Give me a chance, Tina.
Ndivekeko mphete
I will put on a hat.
Kuti ikhale chikole chachikondi changa
So that it can be a symbol of my love.
Ena amanene banja sindalama
Some people say that family is not money.
Koma ine nditi lero
But I say today.
Banja siumphawiso, ndukafuna ndalama
Family is not enough, I need money.
Tizamange banja
Let's build a family.
Usazavutike Tina ndi umphawi wanga
Tina, don't be overwhelmed by my poverty.
Ndiwe okongola
You are a merchant.
Ndiwe okongola Tina
Tina, you are a merchant.
Ndiwe okongola undidikilire
You are a merchant, please teach me.
Ndiwe okongola weche weche
You are an expert in business.
Wakusalala wakusalala Tina
You always dress up, Tina.
Wakusalala undidikilire
Teach me how to dress up.
Wakusalala perfume wakokokoko
You wear a lot of perfume.
Ndikuziwa kuti kwanu sunkadya therere
I know food doesn't get stolen from your home.
Tina ndiyesesa chonde kuti uzakondwe
Tina, please take care of me.
Ndizakuchotsa ku mangochi kunka ku mangoni
I will take you to Mangochi and Mangoni.
Uzasiya kudya nsomba uzizadya nyama
You will stop eating fish and start eating meat.
Akabwera amuna ozakufunsira
When men come to ask for your hand.
Uwaonetse mphete yanga
Show them my hat.
Uli pachibwenzi
You are in a relationship.
Zina zimakhala nkhakamira za ma benz awo Tina
The names are usually on those Mercedes-Benz cars, Tina.
Uzikanitsitse mami
Introduce me, mom.
Zikhwaya zammangochi
The roads of Mangochi.
Pali akazi ena ndionyada udyo
There are some women who I reject.
Ndalama zandiwo mai
I have money, mother.
Kuthera kuziphoda
I'm spending it all.
Kukongola kwa mkazi
Pleasing a woman.
Ndikugwira ntchito Tina ndikusekelera
I'm working hard, Tina, and waiting for you.
Iwetu Tina palibetu wina koma ndiwe wekha wakusalala pangali
We don't have anyone else except you, Tina, but you always dress up extravagantly.
Once upon a time...
A traditional beginning of a fairy tale or fable.
Contributed by Brooklyn N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
hazel bhamjee
2021 and I'm still listening to this song.. 😊
Kelvin Malindi
Reminds me of my childhood days and my Dad loved this song. Great tune of all time
Bellarmino Zacarias Sandoca
❤ Recordar é viver!
Fanny mariza jorge Nacumbize
Exatamente, gosto muito da música, mais não percebo o que ele diz, podes traduzir para mim?
Fanny mariza jorge Nacumbize
Alguém pode traduzir a música?? Amo essa música
FB
Muito tudo de bom, o melhor sem sombra de dúvida, checando e chutando o balde, a musicalidade faz parte do D.N.H, muito show. D+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Bellarmino Zacarias Sandoca
🤓 Passei para recordar os tempos onde eu repetia essa música varias vezes....
Como dizem, recordar é viver.. 2020/07/03 Moçambique.
Linette Chatsika
This song reminds me of my childhood days, I love it so much
E Squad
linette miss you
Rodgers Chidothe
the first good Malawian music video during those good days