Zambian hip-hop icon Mulaza Kaira, known by his stage name Macky 2, recently opened up about a tumultuous chapter in his life that led to the creation of one of his most poignant songs, “Nangu Banchinge.” The revelation came during his performance at the “Over 20 Years of Love and Music” show alongside Nalu and Izrael, where Macky 2 shared the backstory of how the hit song was born out of adversity.
The scandal threw him into serious legal trouble, marking one of the most challenging periods of his career. However, instead of letting the experience derail him, Macky 2 channeled his struggles into his music, using them as inspiration to create “Nangu Banchinge.”
Macky 2, who has mostly kept this chapter of his life private, surprised his fans by finally breaking his silence about the incident. He revealed that after his release from prison, he felt an overwhelming urge to express his pain and resilience through a song. The only artist he believed could bring his vision to life was Kangwa Kapamba, formerly known as Exile, now Izrael.
“I don’t know if you remember, but back then, when I was based on the Copperbelt, I got tangled up with some Jerabos and found myself in a copper mess,” Macky 2 shared. “When I got out of prison, I knew the only person who could communicate what I wanted to say in the song was Izrael. I told him about the hardships I faced, and he translated that into a powerful song.”
Izrael delivered exactly what Macky 2 envisioned, crafting a song that has continued to resonate with audiences for over a decade. “Even now, 12 years later, I still perform ‘Nangu Banchinge,’ and people deeply relate to it,” Macky 2 reflected