LUCIUS BANDA Roots Reggae Artist from Malawi Roots reggae still holds a special place in Afrika. At a time when most artists are shying away from positive vibes, Lucius Banda, from Malawi, the warm heart of Afrika, is carrying on the torch with his brand of Afrikan reggae. His lyrics touch on everyday life experiences. He sings mostly in his Chichewa dialect. Lucius has been in the music business in his native Malawi since the 1980s, starting with the Alleluyah Band, singing gospel songs and experimenting with other forms of music. Reggae got the best of him in the 1990s, when he formed the Zembani band, and he hasn't slowed down since. What differentiates Lucius from other artists is the freshness of his songs and his strong vocals. The 12-track release on the Planet Afrika label, "Mzimu wa Soldier," which means spirit of a soldier, is filled with positive vibes. The title track, "Mzimu wa Soldier," is a song asking people to remember him as a fighter for the poor, not for his material wealth, and his spirit will rest in peace; so will that of Marley, Tosh, Ghandi, X, Luther, and Yesu. Other tracks such as "Tigwire Manja," which talks about unity, and "Tisiyana Bwanji," about capital punishment, are songs filled with emotion. The songs are trademarks of Lucius' ability to forge lyrics that make one think about everyday social issues. "Mzimu wa Soldier" is a catchy reggae collection. Lucius has performed widely in his country as well as in major southern afrikan cities. He also traveled to the UK in 2000 for a series of performances. Those who have witnessed his live performances say it's pure excitement. Lucius brings down the house as he lets loose the people's favorite songs. ooooo