Soldier’s biopic in the offing

A documentary of legendary musician Soldier Lucius Banda titled Soja: The Lucius Banda Documentary, which is a creation of veteran journalist Jack Mcbrams, is set to be released soon.

Mcbrams confirmed the development yesterday, adding that he is working on the documentary with 4Kaya Films.

Directed and produced by Mcbrams alongside German anthropologist Rupert Poesch, the documentary is expected to be launched next month.

“We started working on the documentary with Soldier before he passed on in June. When he died, with the blessing of his family, I decided to finish what we had started so that we keep his legacy alive,” he said.

According to Mcbrams, who worked with Soldier for a longtime, the documentary is being produced with funding from Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (Macra) through Universal Service Fund.

He said the life of Soldier, who was, until his death, President Lazarus Chakwera’s Adviser on Youth and Arts, Impakt Events Director, producers of Sand Music Festival, and Zembani Music Company Director, needed to be preserved.

“The motivation for doing this documentary is that we should be able to tell our own stories. We owe to ourselves to celebrate our heroes. No-one will do that for us. Soldier was no ordinary musician,” Mcbrams said.

Meanwhile, a trailer has already been released and highlights some of the things that are packaged in the documentary.

Some of the highlights include live performances as well as interviews with veteran producer Tapps Bandawe and veteran promoter Mr Entertainer Jai Banda, who reveals that their favourite of Soldier’s songs is ‘Nthawi’.

The trailer also had interviews with Soldier’s children Johnny Zembani, who is currently leading Zembani Band and Laura.

“He was a father, friend and big brother,” Johnny, who shared several moments with his father during live performances, singing together the track ‘Johnny’, where he recounts his arrest, said.

Soldier, who had kidney problems, died in South Africa in June this year and was laid to rest at Sosola Village in Balaka.

His music career spanned over 30 years and he went on to release 20 albums which include Down Babylon, Unity, Survivor, Cell 51 and Cease Fire.

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