Lily Banda

EARLY LIFE

Lily Banda was born on 16 August 1990 in Malawi and raised in the capital city of Lilongwe. She developed a love for music from the age of four and began performing on school stages by age six. She grew up immersed in Malawian culture and started her professional journey around 2010–2011 as a radio and television personality and event host. Early in her music career she performed under the stage name Alex, delivering bold poetry and songs that addressed societal issues. In 2015 she adopted her birth name Lily as her professional stage identity.

CAREER

Music: As an Afro-pop artist, Banda released her debut album Black Kiss in January 2014. She followed with the EP Odd Hours in 2015 and has released additional albums and singles (including tracks such as “Bad at Love,” “Feeling Good,” and “Running”). She has performed at festivals in Malawi and poetry events in New York. In 2015 she received an African Union Youth Hero Award for contributions to youth empowerment and the arts. In 2018 she earned AFRIMA nominations for Best Female Artist (Southern Africa) and Most Promising Artist in Africa. Acting: Banda gained international recognition in 2019 for her role as Annie Kamkwamba (the sister of the protagonist) in Chiwetel Ejiofor’s Netflix film The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind, based on the true story of Malawian inventor William Kamkwamba and filmed partly in Malawi. She also appeared that year as Aïcha Konaté (a Malian interpreter) in season 2 of the British spy thriller series Deep State. Subsequent credits include Mulaen in Amazon Prime’s The Wheel of Time (2021/2023), the voice of Leopard (Towela) in the animated series Supa Team 4 (2023), and Wael in the drama/thriller The Hunted (2024). She continues to expand her international screen presence while remaining active in music, poetry, and performance.

PERSONAL LIFE

Banda lives in Lilongwe, Malawi. She describes herself as a multipotentialite and “child of the Wind.” She is an outspoken advocate for women’s rights and has spoken publicly about violence against women (including a 2015 TEDxLilongwe talk). She maintains a relatively private personal life regarding relationships and family beyond her professional and advocacy work. She has also explored photography and visual arts.

In 2020 Banda was named one of the Africa 35:35 most influential young African personalities. She is recognized as a trailblazing Malawian artist who bridges music, acting, poetry, and social advocacy, particularly around gender-based violence and women’s empowerment. She has headlined events, organized spoken-word platforms (such as Word Spoken in Lilongwe), and uses her platform to inspire young Africans. Her career demonstrates versatility across performing arts and a commitment to both creative excellence and social impact.