Billy Kaunda ventures into music ministry
Former member of Parliament and veteran musician Billy Kaunda has gone back to his roots by establishing a band at Lilongwe Baptist Church to take music as a ministry.
The musician has since been invited by Great Angels Choir to perform at its Mwasankha Ine DVD launch in Blantyre and Lilongwe on December 6 and 25 respectively.
The Mwapindulanji hit-maker said he is still active in music circles, although in a different sphere of life.
“I have not quit music. I do sing occasionally and when necessary because I take music as a calling and a ministry. It is not a career for me,” said the late 1990s MBC Entertainers of the Year Best Musician.
Kaunda started his music career while in school and church. He was part of Jerusalem Baptist Choir and Prophets Acapella in 1980s before joining Lucius Banda’s Zembani Band.
He then quit Zembani to form his own group known as Armageddon where he went on to release 12 albums.
He is famous for speaking on behalf of the poor masses in songs such as Mwapindulanji, Kumidima, Agalatia and Lupanga.
He said, this time around, he has gone back into full time music ministry where his career began some decades ago.
“I started in church. [Presently], I have taken music as a ministry to reach out to people,” he said.
The former member of Parliament for Mzimba West said piracy has forced him to suspend any project of releasing an album.
“I wouldn’t say I have stopped music. But as for now, don’t expect any album,” he said.
As someone who has been in Parliament, Kaunda said it was not all up to him to change the laws on piracy that has left most artists penniless from their music.
“We talked about these issues when I was in Parliament. But changing the law is not a one man show. It was not all about me. And yet you [the media] were saying I am just there to drink tea.
“So, tell me, has anything changed this time around that we have other musicians in the house?” wondered the musician who has been deputy minister of Tourism, Lands and Sports. n
