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
