Larry Maluma

Larry Maluma is a Zambian reggae artist based in Australia. He relocated to Australia in 1985, a move that saw his career path a long and tough one having left the country when he was just about to reach near-stardom status and having to go and start all over again far from home. He is an accomplished musician, composer and singer. He sings in English, Nyanja, Bemba and Tonga languages. He has engaged a number of music styles with the thrust of blending his own brand of roots music. The unique sound has put some of his songs at the top of the Zambian charts.

He arrived in Australia in 1985 and has made efforts to broaden the Australian perspective of African music. He has so far released 12 albums and more than 15 music video clips which have been aired on the ABC program, Rage, SBS, Channel 9 and many other TV and radio shows in Australia including Triple J, 3RRR, PBS FM and other countries including Zambia, Zimbabwe and South Africa.

In 2009, his album titled ‘Tusekelele’ (Let’s Celebrate) was hailed as one of the most impressive albums and one of the most admirable albums to be associated with African music.

He is a Life Time Achievement Award winner who has headlined festivals such as Apollo Bay Music Festival, Bellingen Global Carnival and the Globe to Globe World Music Festival. He was also a special guest for Jimmy Cliff, Wailers and Angelique Kidjo to mention a few.

In January 2004, he was asked by two members of MMM International to assist with the Zambian project ‘The African Dream’, a project which assists underprivileged children in Zambia. He donated his songs which were compiled on the compilation ‘Larry Maluma - A Good Cause’. The compilation contains a mixture of songs sung in two of Zambia’s 72 languages, Bemba and Nyanja. The songs chosen are from five of Larry’s album releases. Half of the proceeds from the sale of the CD were channeled towards the “African Dream” project. Another song ‘Punzisani Aana’ (Teach the Children) taken from his 1993 album ‘Man & Woman’ is used in a documentary on children’s blindness.
His 12th album ‘Ulemu’ (Respect) that was recorded over thirty years ago in Zambia was launched in 2015.