James Jay Sticks

James banda well known as james jay sticks, started playing officially in 2013 at a local church called PENTECOST HOLINESS CHURCH and his inspiration was from streams for gospel music/drummers like Aaron spears,Calvin Rodgers, Kasonde Sunkutu (drummer for the iconic Sampa the Great) and his mentor Gabriel Ndumba. Despite the strong Christian influence, Jay sticks is an all-around drummer who can play a variety of genres such as jazz,afro reggae,kalindula,blues,folk,afro pop,and R,n,B music.

James loves music so much that he feels like he was born to do drums. His drumming is something that dates back to 2008 when he started playing traditional drums in primary school at Twatasha Primary school in Chawama Lusaka Zambia. As a young boy then, he would participate in the famous NASAAZ school talent competition/ festival, where he won as the best drummer of the year in 2012.

Years later now as a professional drummer, he has played for big traditional dance troops such as the Isuka Mini dance troop.

He intends to keep playing drums and develop it as his main instrument. He has also invested in developing his musical skills by attending trainings and workshops. An example of this is his attendance at Modzi Arts for the Zamrock Museum Artist in Residency program in July 2023.