Acclaimed Blind Kalindula singer Laban Kalunga has died.
Mr Kalunga died at his Kapiri home on Tuesday after an illness, his close friend and singer Andy Chola confirmed.
Mr Kalunga, who shot to fame with his Umwana Alelila and Muchindike Ba Muka Bene hit song in the mid 80s will be put to rest on Thursday in Kapiri.
Mr Kalunga was born in Luanshya’s Mpatamatu Township in 1947 where his father worked as a carpenter.
Laban struggled in his education due to lack of parental support and during his free time, he explored his talent as a musician with a home-made three stringed instrument called banjo in community centres.
In 1969, Laban left for Chipata in Eastern Province to pursue his education but failed to continue due to lack of support from his relatives.
After the disappointment, he trekked back to the Copperbelt to continue with his escapades in community centres where his prolific banjo works were highly appreciated.
Laban came into the Lime light in 1980, when he took part in the Zambia Music Parlour Limited (ZMPL) auditions which were held at Ndola’s Green Village.
After seeing the potential in Laban, ZMPL proprietor and producer, Edward Godfrey Khuzwayo together with his manager Billy David Nyati, signed a recording contract with him and soon he was at Lusaka’s DB studios where he put on wax four songs namely, Kafumbe Seluka, Kasompe, Kanshi Kalembula Munani and Imfwawhich exposed him further.
He immediately formed the Fikashala Band and had former Blackfoot members Peter Chilufya and his older brother Paul, playing Bass and Rhythm respectively while, George Banda took charge of drums, Laban on lead and Daliwe Daka also on lead.
In 1982, he released three singles, Twalinwine Brandy, Ukuteeka Ichalo (Kwalyafya), Amano Mambulwa andBy Air, which talked about events in politics where anyone who opposed views of the ruling party, was forcibly lifted and thrown high up in the air and let to crush to the ground un aided.
In 1991, he changed the name of the band to Amantanki probably to give it more fire power and a new face and recruited Garry Njovu to take charge of the lead guitar, while veteran Paul Chilufya remained on bass, Toki Mawila (drums) and Laban falling back on rhythm.
With Amantanki, Laban produced Tuchindike Ba Muka Bene and Bashi Malama (Ndefwaya Ukwishiba umulandu mwisa mukunguma nga mwabwela mukunwa), which is still a hit on radio airwaves more than ten years after its release.
This took him to performing in public places such as Maria and Riverside bars in Ndola’s Kabushi Township, Savoy and Edinburgh hotels in Ndola and Kitwe respectively, as well as Mansa Inn now Mansa Hotel, which marketed him adequately such that his performances were always jammed with hundreds of his fans.
Emerging problems in the Zambian music industry, especially at the close of the 1980s caused by high piracy levels, affected most promoters and musicians alike.
This is the time that Laban’s contract also came to an end with ZMPL.
With Teal Record Company closed, Zambian Music Parlour withdrawing to the back stage and high taxes on musical equipment imposed by the Government, the local music industry was no longer thriving, throwing most musicians out of business.
But Laban who was gifted with a set of musical instruments from ZMPL as an act of appreciation, then decided to shift camp to Kalweo near Kapiri in 1993, where he set up base and churned out some of his popular compositions.
But it was not long before the Army overran the settlement setting it ablaze in which, Laban lost the entire set of instruments as hundreds of people who also lost property and money, fled the area in blind panic.
The soldiers who struck at 02:00 hours on the morning of that day, were agitated by the severe beating of their colleague who differed with the villagers over a personal dispute.
Laban was left helpless and scrounged for food and shelter among the locals.
In 1996, he left for Lusaka where Chris Chali took him on while performing with his band the Amayenge, at Stanley Bar on Freedom Way.
After the death of Chris, he teamed up with veteran folk singer Andy Chola now based at Mwange Mushila in Kalingalinga as a backup musician.
But these developments made Laban quite unsettled because he did not have instruments of his own and life in Lusaka became tough as he has no permanent shelter while his wife left him a long time ago because of the same challenges.
He was being supported by a Mr Anthony Chali, an employee of the Ministry of Education who had found him a small rented room in New John Laing Township before trekking back to Kapiri.
He is survived by a daughter and three grand children.
*Additional reporting by Times of Zambia
MHSRIEP.
Indeed I am reminded of those songs.
“Ala bamuka bene, balepaisha bamuka bene mayo.”
“Ala bamuka bene muchindike bamuka bene mayo.”
Away from politics for once.
Rest in peace Mwebalamu. The King of Lala Land is gone.
I need that song “Twalinwine Brandy”, I will pay $100.
@Nostradamus
this funeral we will have to attend!!! this was a true Zambian,, sad!!! it only KK who used to love Zambian musicians not abane Lungu who loves `USA` musician
RIP True legend!
RIP indeed.
We shall hopefully one day set up a memorial fund for the likes of you,Emmanuel Mulemena,Smokey Haangala,Paul Ngozi to name but a few.
PK Chishala, John Mulemena, Smon Kaseba (Serenje Kalindula), etc
MHSRIP son of the soil we enjoyed and still will enjoy your music till we meet again
Great musician!!! I am recommending a collection of all the songs that Laban Kalunga produced for people interested in re/discovering Zambian music.
Who isn’t a private citizen kanshi Mwebantu?
I am reminded of Laban Kalunga’s song Twalinwine Brandy as Dawnson Mwendafilumba loved playing it so often on ZBS Radio. I also remember how Laban Kalunga would enjoy dancing to his own songs. He was such a talented artist and social commentator comparable only to the likes of PK Chishala.
MHSRIP, his music inspired and taught alot from his generation to the millennials like myself. Kalindula Music will never die and big up for ZNBC who have continued to play such kind of music after the private media has diluted our music as a country. You gave good quality music Mr. Kalunga and your songs will remain in the hearts of many like those of Bob Marley and alike. MHSRIP
Does anyone know where I can get “Twalinwine Brandy”? I Have heard all his songs but this one
sounds investments
A great man, a legend of all time !! National Mourning?
THANK YOU BA LUSAKA TIMES FOR THE LIFE HISTORY OF THE UNSUNG HERO. MAY HIS SOUL REST IN PEACE. WE USED TO DANCE TO HIS SONGS WHEN THE WORLD WAS YOUNG, THE GRASS WAS GREEN AND THE SKY WAS BLUE. THOSE WERE DAYS WHEN BEER WAS 15 NGWEE A PINT. THE GOOD OLD DAYS. DON’T ARGUE, YOU WERE NOT THERE AS MATEYO PHIRI WOULD SAY.
ZNBC rise to the challenge and start producing CDs of the legendary music by PK Chishala, Wisdom Nkandu, Mulemena, Smokey Haangala, Paul Ngozi and Laban Kalunga – MHSRIEP, just to mention afew. This kind of music can be sold by the marketing department of ZNBC in Lusaka and Kitwe. We need to keep a legacy of our own Zambian grown music and this can indirectly be encouraged by the GRZ through ZNBC in a sustainable manner as suggested here.
@Mendetele, the world is moving with the latest technology, so is Zambia. One one deals with CDs anymore, say they should collect those songs and sell them on iCloud format whichever can work in Zambia, there is too much piracy nowadays and no one makes money out of CDs.
MHSRIP….Well articulated profile.Please we should not end here.Kindly note I have been following Zambian music for sometime now.Other musicians will take advantage of our late brother by reproducing the lyrics and get money out of it without shame.It has happen before when prominent musicians dies ”FAKE” Musicians come on board.I would like to appeal to ZAMCOPS Board to take this matter seriously and also compel those who will abrogated the rules of music in Zambia to pay back the money that might be raised through an orthodox manner.I thank you…
Bampama bantubulusha ba dary pali one mosi nanwine, ,..mhsrip
The song ukuteka icalo kwalyafya has taken me down memory lane. I realy liked this man and will miss him. RIP
May his soul rest in peace
Laban you are gone too soon pass regards to Paul ngozi . ba p.k and the likes .rip
May His Soul Rest In Eternal Peace. One of the old musicians who composed and sang songs to educate the masses. Miss you!!!!!
I will certanly live to remember you Laban. You are amonst the great musicians that this country has produced who have since gone before you. I used to enjoy with you at Good Hope Motel, and above all recorded you live on Zilile Ngoma. What a man we have lost. My last encounter with you was in Kamwala South when I could not really gigure out that you were saying buy to me. Great people will ever live in the minds of the upright even when long gone. Your music and character will see generations and generations of our land live to your composition and instruments powers. Rest in eternal peace brother it will meet and cerebrate life for eternal. I still see you strummig the guiter even in your death. Something that you like. Go well brother.
The last song composed and done by Laban is “Ichupo Mwangufya”, not yet released to the airwaves, but believe me was such a hit. I was to make Laban play it 3 or 4 times on one single gig. What a talented man we have lost. MHSRIEP.
I used to make Laban play it 3 or 4 times on a single gig.
Vulnerability. The State through uncontrolled army behavior led to the destitution of an innocent Zambian. And government did nothing.
May the govt name a street or something after him. Please pls pls pls